1.5.1 Ensure core dumps are restricted -'hard core'

Information

A core dump is the memory of an executable program. It is generally used to determine why a program aborted. It can also be used to glean confidential information from a core file. The system provides the ability to set a soft limit for core dumps, but this can be overridden by the user. Setting a hard limit on core dumps prevents users from overriding the soft variable. If core dumps are required, consider setting limits for user groups (see limits.conf(5)). In addition, setting the fs.suid_dumpable variable to 0 will prevent setuid programs from dumping core.

Solution

Add the following line to the /etc/security/limits.conf file or a /etc/security/limits.d/* file: * hard core 0 Set the following parameter in the /etc/sysctl.conf file: fs.suid_dumpable = 0 Run the following command to set the active kernel parameter: # sysctl -w fs.suid_dumpable=0

See Also

https://benchmarks.cisecurity.org/tools2/linux/CIS_Ubuntu_Linux_14.04_LTS_Benchmark_v2.0.0.pdf

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL

References: 800-53|AC-6

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: c5c5690c91e564fa238a6255724d080871226ea1fcbec922a8bedf6fb616013d