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

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:

Example:

echo '
kernel.randomize_va_space = 2
' >> /etc/sysctl.d/50-kernel_sysctl.conf

Run the following command to set the active kernel parameter:

# sysctl -w kernel.randomize_va_space=2

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/3675

Item Details

Category: SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY

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

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 2523de162ef86faf55b19740e42e4ee359465dbf49087c5fbad7a5163648a5ba