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1.6.3 Ensure address space layout randomization (ASLR) is enabled - sysctl

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Information

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

Rationale:

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 /etc/sysctl.d/* file:

kernel.randomize_va_space = 2

Run the following command to set the active kernel parameter:

# sysctl -w kernel.randomize_va_space=2

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/2854

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY

References: 800-53|SI-16, CSCv6|3.1, CSCv7|8.3

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: addf08a2b2dd49554ea1d91f9add39e440574ceaa54fd33d157fc757e1e503eb