Amazon Linux 2023 must restrict exposed kernel pointer addresses access.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-274003 | AZLX-23-000210 | SV-274003r1119997_rule | CCI-001082 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| Exposing kernel pointers (through procfs or "seq_printf()") exposes kernel writeable structures, which may contain functions pointers. If a write vulnerability occurs in the kernel, allowing write access to any of this structure, the kernel can be compromised. This option disallows any program without the CAP_SYSLOG capability to get the addresses of kernel pointers by replacing them with "0". Satisfies: SRG-OS-000132-GPOS-00067, SRG-OS-000433-GPOS-00192 | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-27 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-274003r1119997_chk)
Verify Amazon Linux 2023 restricts exposed kernel pointer addresses access by validating the runtime status of the Amazon Linux 2023 kernel.kptr_restrict kernel parameter with the following command:
$ sudo sysctl kernel.kptr_restrict
kernel.kptr_restrict = 1
If "kernel.kptr_restrict" is not set to "1" or is missing, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-77999r1119996_fix)
Configure Amazon Linux 2023 to restrict exposed kernel pointer addresses access.
Add or edit the following line in a system configuration file in the "/etc/sysctl.d/" directory:
kernel.kptr_restrict = 1
Reload settings from all system configuration files with the following command:
$ sudo sysctl --system