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.

Rationale:

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

Impact:

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

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

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/15286

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: a006681c343549aab7d5a1484473537bc64bd6652cfc2e115abee84da4b86a91