RHEL-09-213040 - RHEL 9 must disable the kernel.core_pattern.

Information

A core dump includes a memory image taken at the time the operating system terminates an application. The memory image could contain sensitive data and is generally useful only for developers trying to debug problems.

The sysctl --system command will load settings from all system configuration files. All configuration files are sorted by their filename in lexicographical order, regardless of the directories in which they reside. If multiple files specify the same option, the entry in the file with the lexicographically latest name will take precedence. Files are read from directories in the following list from top to bottom. Once a file of a given filename is loaded, any file of the same name in subsequent directories is ignored.

/etc/sysctl.d/*.conf
/run/sysctl.d/*.conf
/usr/local/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf
/usr/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf
/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf
/etc/sysctl.conf

Solution

Configure RHEL 9 to disable storing core dumps.

Create a drop-in if it does not already exist:

$ sudo vi /etc/sysctl.d/99-kernel_core_pattern.conf

Add the following to the file:
kernel.core_pattern = |/bin/false

Reload settings from all system configuration files with the following command:

$ sudo sysctl --system

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_RHEL_9_V2R8_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-6b., CAT|II, CCI|CCI-000366, Rule-ID|SV-257803r1155668_rule, STIG-ID|RHEL-09-213040, Vuln-ID|V-257803

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: c709877ae967d663df2387e94bf3999b4760ab77e527c830c144ff78e519eec8