Details

Secure Boot is a protocol of UEFI firmware that ensures the integrity of the boot process from hardware up through to the OS. Secure Boot for ESXi requires support from the firmware and it requires that all ESXi kernel modules, drivers, and VIBs be signed by VMware or a partner subordinate.

Solution

Temporarily enable SSH, connect to the ESXi host and run the following command:

/usr/lib/vmware/secureboot/bin/secureBoot.py -c

If the output indicates that Secure Boot cannot be enabled, correct the discrepancies and try again. If the discrepancies cannot be rectified this finding is downgraded to a CAT III.

Consult your vendor documentation and boot the host into BIOS setup mode. Enable UEFI boot mode and Secure Boot. Restart the host.

Temporarily enable SSH, connect to the ESXi host and run the following command to verify that Secure Boot is enabled:

/usr/lib/vmware/secureboot/bin/secureBoot.py -s

Supportive Information

The following resource is also helpful.

• https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_VMW_vSphere_6-5_Y21M10_STIG.zip

This security hardening control applies to the following category of controls within NIST 800-53: Configuration Management.This control applies to the following type of system Unix.

References

• 800-53|CM-6b.
• CAT|II
• CCI|CCI-000366
• Rule-ID|SV-207673r388482_rule
• STIG-ID|ESXI-65-000076
• STIG-Legacy|SV-104317
• STIG-Legacy|V-94487
• Vuln-ID|V-207673

Source

• Tenable.com/audits