1.5.1 Ensure address space layout randomization is enabled

Information

Address space layout randomization (ASLR) is an exploit mitigation technique which randomly arranges the address space of key data areas of a process.

Randomly placing virtual memory regions will make it difficult to write memory page exploits as the memory placement will be consistently shifting.

Solution

Set the following parameter in /etc/sysctl.conf or a file in /etc/sysctl.d/ ending inconf :

- kernel.randomize_va_space = 2

Example:

# printf "%s
" "kernel.randomize_va_space = 2" >> /etc/sysctl.d/60-kernel_sysctl.conf

Run the following command to set the active kernel parameter:

# sysctl -w kernel.randomize_va_space=2

Note: If these settings appear in a canonically later file, or later in the same file, these settings will be overwritten

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/18960

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY

References: 800-53|SI-16, CSCv7|8.3

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 18a448ef58970bd5bf1f7cdd0fec8cb65f3cac8f55a873d4d03229724c8ff81c