3D features on the virtual machine must be disabled when not required.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-237102	VMCH-65-000048	SV-237102r640143_rule		Low

Description
It is recommended that 3D acceleration be disabled on virtual machines that do not require 3D functionality, (e.g. most server workloads or desktops not using 3D applications).

STIG	Date
VMware vSphere 6.5 Virtual Machine Security Technical Implementation Guide	2021-09-22

Details

Check Text ( C-40321r640141_chk )
From the vSphere Web Client select the Virtual Machine, right click and go to Edit Settings >> VM Options Tab >> Advanced >> Configuration Parameters >> Edit Configuration. Find the "mks.enable3d" value and verify it is set to "false". or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host or vCenter server, run the following command: Get-VM "VM Name" \| Get-AdvancedSetting -Name mks.enable3d If the virtual machine advanced setting "mks.enable3d" does not exist or is not set to "false", this is a finding. If a virtual machine requires 3D features, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-40321r640141_chk )

From the vSphere Web Client select the Virtual Machine, right click and go to Edit Settings >> VM Options Tab >> Advanced >> Configuration Parameters >> Edit Configuration. Find the "mks.enable3d" value and verify it is set to "false".

or

From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host or vCenter server, run the following command:

Get-VM "VM Name" | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name mks.enable3d

If the virtual machine advanced setting "mks.enable3d" does not exist or is not set to "false", this is a finding.

If a virtual machine requires 3D features, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-40284r640142_fix)
From the vSphere Client select the Virtual Machine, right click and go to Edit Settings >> VM Options Tab >> Advanced >> Configuration Parameters >> Edit Configuration. Find the "mks.enable3d" value and set it to "false". Note: The VM must be powered off to modify the advanced settings through the vSphere Web Client. It is recommended to configure these settings with PowerCLI as this can be done while the VM is powered on. In this case the modified settings will not take effect until a cold boot of the VM. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host or vCenter server, run the following command: If the setting does not exist, run: Get-VM "VM Name" \| New-AdvancedSetting -Name mks.enable3d -Value false If the setting exists, run: Get-VM "VM Name" \| Get-AdvancedSetting -Name mks.enable3d \| Set-AdvancedSetting -Value false

Fix Text (F-40284r640142_fix)

From the vSphere Client select the Virtual Machine, right click and go to Edit Settings >> VM Options Tab >> Advanced >> Configuration Parameters >> Edit Configuration. Find the "mks.enable3d" value and set it to "false".

Note: The VM must be powered off to modify the advanced settings through the vSphere Web Client. It is recommended to configure these settings with PowerCLI as this can be done while the VM is powered on. In this case the modified settings will not take effect until a cold boot of the VM.

or

From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host or vCenter server, run the following command:

If the setting does not exist, run:

Get-VM "VM Name" | New-AdvancedSetting -Name mks.enable3d -Value false

If the setting exists, run:

Get-VM "VM Name" | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name mks.enable3d | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value false