The ESXi host must protect the confidentiality and integrity of transmitted information by isolating IP-based storage traffic.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
medium	V-256413	SRG-OS-000423-VMM-001700	ESXI-70-000050	SV-256413r958908_rule	2025-02-11	1

Description
Virtual machines (VMs) might share virtual switches and VLANs with the IP-based storage configurations. IP-based storage includes vSAN, iSCSI, and NFS. This configuration might expose IP-based storage traffic to unauthorized VM users. IP-based storage frequently is not encrypted. It can be viewed by anyone with access to this network. To restrict unauthorized users from viewing the IP-based storage traffic, the IP-based storage network must be logically separated from any other traffic. Configuring the IP-based storage adaptors on separate VLANs or network segments from other VMkernels and VMs will limit unauthorized users from viewing the traffic.

Description

Virtual machines (VMs) might share virtual switches and VLANs with the IP-based storage configurations. IP-based storage includes vSAN, iSCSI, and NFS. This configuration might expose IP-based storage traffic to unauthorized VM users. IP-based storage frequently is not encrypted. It can be viewed by anyone with access to this network. To restrict unauthorized users from viewing the IP-based storage traffic, the IP-based storage network must be logically separated from any other traffic. Configuring the IP-based storage adaptors on separate VLANs or network segments from other VMkernels and VMs will limit unauthorized users from viewing the traffic.

ℹ️ Check
If IP-based storage is not used, this is not applicable. From the vSphere Client, select the ESXi host and go to Configure >> Networking >> VMkernel adapters. Select each IP-based storage VMkernel adapter and view the enabled services. If any services are enabled on an NFS or iSCSI IP-based storage VMkernel adapter, this is a finding. If any services are enabled on a vSAN VMkernel adapter other than vSAN, this is a finding. From the vSphere Client, select the ESXi host and go to Configure >> Networking >> VMkernel adapters. Review the VLANs associated with any IP-based storage VMkernels and verify they are dedicated for that purpose and are logically separated from other functions. If any IP-based storage networks are not isolated from other traffic types, this is a finding.

ℹ️ Check

If IP-based storage is not used, this is not applicable. From the vSphere Client, select the ESXi host and go to Configure >> Networking >> VMkernel adapters. Select each IP-based storage VMkernel adapter and view the enabled services. If any services are enabled on an NFS or iSCSI IP-based storage VMkernel adapter, this is a finding. If any services are enabled on a vSAN VMkernel adapter other than vSAN, this is a finding. From the vSphere Client, select the ESXi host and go to Configure >> Networking >> VMkernel adapters. Review the VLANs associated with any IP-based storage VMkernels and verify they are dedicated for that purpose and are logically separated from other functions. If any IP-based storage networks are not isolated from other traffic types, this is a finding.

✔️ Fix
Configuration of an IP-based VMkernel will be unique to each environment. From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> Networking >> VMkernel adapters. Select the VMkernel used for IP-based storage and click "Edit...". On the "Port" properties tab, uncheck all services. Click "OK". Note: For VMkernels used for vSAN, leave the vSAN service enabled and uncheck all others. From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters >> select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> Networking >> Virtual switches. Find the port group that is dedicated to IP-based storage and click the "..." button next to the name. Click "Edit Settings". On the "Properties" tab, change the "VLAN ID" to one dedicated for IP-based storage traffic. Click "OK".

✔️ Fix

Configuration of an IP-based VMkernel will be unique to each environment. From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters. Select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> Networking >> VMkernel adapters. Select the VMkernel used for IP-based storage and click "Edit...". On the "Port" properties tab, uncheck all services. Click "OK". Note: For VMkernels used for vSAN, leave the vSAN service enabled and uncheck all others. From the vSphere Client, go to Hosts and Clusters >> select the ESXi Host >> Configure >> Networking >> Virtual switches. Find the port group that is dedicated to IP-based storage and click the "..." button next to the name. Click "Edit Settings". On the "Properties" tab, change the "VLAN ID" to one dedicated for IP-based storage traffic. Click "OK".