Virtual machines (VMs) must disable 3D features when not required.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-258715	VMCH-80-000202	SV-258715r959010_rule		Low

Description
For performance reasons, 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 8.0 Virtual Machine Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-07-11

Details

Check Text ( C-62455r933204_chk )
For each virtual machine do the following: From the vSphere Client, right-click the Virtual Machine and go to Edit Settings. Expand the "Video card" and verify the "Enable 3D Support" checkbox is unchecked. 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" exists and is not set to "false", this is a finding. If the virtual machine advanced setting "mks.enable3d" does not exist, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-62455r933204_chk )

For each virtual machine do the following:

From the vSphere Client, right-click the Virtual Machine and go to Edit Settings.

Expand the "Video card" and verify the "Enable 3D Support" checkbox is unchecked.

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" exists and is not set to "false", this is a finding.

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

Fix Text (F-62364r933205_fix)
For each virtual machine do the following: From the vSphere Client, right-click the Virtual Machine and go to Edit Settings. Expand the "Video card" and uncheck the "Enable 3D Support" checkbox. Click "OK". 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 \| Set-AdvancedSetting -Value "false" Note: The VM must be powered off to configure the advanced settings through the vSphere Client. Therefore, it is recommended to configure these settings with PowerCLI as this can be done while the VM is powered on. Settings do not take effect via either method until the virtual machine is cold started, not rebooted.

Fix Text (F-62364r933205_fix)

For each virtual machine do the following:

From the vSphere Client, right-click the Virtual Machine and go to Edit Settings.

Expand the "Video card" and uncheck the "Enable 3D Support" checkbox.

Click "OK".

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 | Set-AdvancedSetting -Value "false"

Note: The VM must be powered off to configure the advanced settings through the vSphere Client. Therefore, it is recommended to configure these settings with PowerCLI as this can be done while the VM is powered on. Settings do not take effect via either method until the virtual machine is cold started, not rebooted.