1.4.1 Ensure address space layout randomization (ASLR) 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 "
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/15286

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY

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

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: ad5d312b151967c3dc380bb1f2e3f738705ce5923c94f6669e49615cd05163dd