Elastic Security Detection Rules

ESXi Attempt to Force Install a VMware VIB Package

Last updated 2 days ago on 2026-09-30
Created 2 days ago on 2026-09-30

About

Detects an attempt to install a VMware VIB with `--force`. A VIB is how ESXi adds drivers and host software, and signature checks normally block an unsigned package. `--force` skips that validation, so an untrusted package can be written onto the hypervisor and affect every virtual machine it runs.
Tags
Domain: EndpointData Source: VMware vSphereUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Defense EvasionRule Type: Custom Query (KQL)Platform: VMware ESXiLanguage: kuery
Severity
medium
Risk Score
47
MITRE ATT&CK™

Defense Evasion (TA0005)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Subvert Trust Controls (T1553)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

False Positive Examples
Administrators sometimes force a vendor VIB during a documented recovery or upgrade when the acceptance level would otherwise reject it. Confirm the VIB name against the change ticket.
License
Elastic License v2(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Query (Kibana Query Language)
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
logs-vsphere.log-*
Related Integrations

vsphere(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Query
text code block:
data_stream.dataset:vsphere.log and event.module:vsphere and message:("vib install" and ("--force" or "-f" or "--no-sig-check"))

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect ESXi Attempt to Force Install a VMware VIB Package in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(external, opens in a new tab or window).