The vCenter Server must set the distributed port group Media Access Control (MAC) Address Change policy to "Reject".
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-258936 | VCSA-80-000269 | SV-258936r934466_rule | CCI-000366 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| If the virtual machine operating system changes the MAC address, it can send frames with an impersonated source MAC address at any time. This allows it to stage malicious attacks on the devices in a network by impersonating a network adaptor authorized by the receiving network. This will prevent virtual machines from changing their effective MAC address and will affect applications that require this functionality. This will also affect how a layer 2 bridge will operate and will affect applications that require a specific MAC address for licensing. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| VMware vSphere 8.0 vCenter Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2023-10-11 | |||
Related Frameworks
4 paths across 3 frameworks
Related Frameworks
NIST 800-531 mapping
CM-6
1.00
- DISA · V1R1 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
NIST 800-1712 mappings
3.4.1
1.00
- DISA · V1R1 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
3.4.2
1.00
- DISA · V1R1 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
CCI1 mapping
CCI-000366
1.00
- DISA · V1R1 · disa_xccdf · related
Details
Check Text (C-258936r934466_chk)
If distributed switches are not used, this is not applicable.
From the vSphere Client, go to "Networking".
Select a distributed switch >> Select a port group >> Configure >> Settings >> Policies.
Verify "MAC Address Changes" is set to "Reject".
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the vCenter server, run the following commands:
Get-VDSwitch | Get-VDSecurityPolicy
Get-VDPortgroup | ?{$_.IsUplink -eq $false} | Get-VDSecurityPolicy
If the "MAC Address Changes" policy is set to accept, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-62585r934465_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to "Networking".
Select a distributed switch >> Select a port group >> Configure >> Settings >> Policies.
Click "Edit".
Click the "Security" tab.
Set "MAC Address Changes" to "Reject".
Click "OK".
or
From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the vCenter server, run the following commands:
Get-VDSwitch | Get-VDSecurityPolicy | Set-VDSecurityPolicy -MacChanges $false
Get-VDPortgroup | ?{$_.IsUplink -eq $false} | Get-VDSecurityPolicy | Set-VDSecurityPolicy -MacChanges $false