The ESXi host must restrict use of the dvFilter network application programming interface (API).

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-258774	ESXI-80-000219	SV-258774r959010_rule		Medium

Description
If the organization is not using products that use the dvFilter network API, the host should not be configured to send network information to a virtual machine (VM). If the API is enabled, an attacker might attempt to connect a virtual machine to it, potentially providing access to the network of other VMs on the host. If using a product that makes use of this API, verify the host has been configured correctly. If not using such a product, ensure the setting is blank.

Description

If the organization is not using products that use the dvFilter network API, the host should not be configured to send network information to a virtual machine (VM). If the API is enabled, an attacker might attempt to connect a virtual machine to it, potentially providing access to the network of other VMs on the host. If using a product that makes use of this API, verify the host has been configured correctly. If not using such a product, ensure the setting is blank.

STIG	Date
VMware vSphere 8.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-07-11

Details

Check Text ( C-62514r933381_chk )
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings. Select the "Net.DVFilterBindIpAddress" value and verify the value is blank or the correct IP address of a security appliance if in use. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command: Get-VMHost \| Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Net.DVFilterBindIpAddress If the "Net.DVFilterBindIpAddress" setting is not blank and security appliances are not in use on the host, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-62514r933381_chk )

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Select the "Net.DVFilterBindIpAddress" value and verify the value is blank or the correct IP address of a security appliance if in use.

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Net.DVFilterBindIpAddress

If the "Net.DVFilterBindIpAddress" setting is not blank and security appliances are not in use on the host, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-62423r933382_fix)
From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings. Click "Edit". Select the "Net.DVFilterBindIpAddress" value and remove any incorrect addresses. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command: Get-VMHost \| Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Net.DVFilterBindIpAddress \| Set-AdvancedSetting -Value ""

Fix Text (F-62423r933382_fix)

From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters.

Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> System >> Advanced System Settings.

Click "Edit". Select the "Net.DVFilterBindIpAddress" value and remove any incorrect addresses.

or

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

Get-VMHost | Get-AdvancedSetting -Name Net.DVFilterBindIpAddress | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value ""