The ESXi host must configure the firewall to block network traffic by default.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-256418 | ESXI-70-000057 | SV-256418r959010_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| In addition to service-specific firewall rules, ESXi has a default firewall rule policy to allow or deny incoming and outgoing traffic. Reduce the risk of attack by ensuring this is set to deny incoming and outgoing traffic. |
| STIG | Date |
| VMware vSphere 7.0 ESXi Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2024-12-16 |
Details
| Check Text (C-60093r886033_chk) |
| From an ESXi shell, run the following command: # esxcli network firewall get If the "Default Action" does not equal "DROP", this is a finding. or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command: Get-VMHostFirewallDefaultPolicy If the Incoming or Outgoing policies are "True", this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-60036r886034_fix) |
| From an ESXi shell, run the following command: # esxcli network firewall set --default-action=false or From a PowerCLI command prompt while connected to the ESXi host, run the following command: Get-VMHostFirewallDefaultPolicy | Set-VMHostFirewallDefaultPolicy -AllowIncoming $false -AllowOutgoing $false |