1.1.2.1.4 Ensure noexec option set on /tmp partition

Information

The noexec mount option specifies that the filesystem cannot contain executable binaries.

Since the /tmp filesystem is only intended for temporary file storage, set this option to ensure that users cannot run executable binaries from /tmp

Solution

- IF - a separate partition exists for /tmp

Edit the /etc/fstab file and add noexec to the fourth field (mounting options) for the /tmp partition.

Example:

<device> /tmp <fstype> defaults,rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,relatime 0 0

Run the following command to remount /tmp with the configured options:

# mount -o remount /tmp

Impact:

Setting the noexec option on /tmp may prevent installation and/or updating of some 3rd party software.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/15287

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL, MEDIA PROTECTION

References: 800-53|AC-3, 800-53|AC-5, 800-53|AC-6, 800-53|MP-2, CSCv7|14.6

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: b87590105955201f4f28fbbd1f8feac52c113562ddf066eeda3a775458825e2f