OL 9 must restrict exposed kernel pointer addresses access.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-271747OL09-00-002408SV-271747r1091953_ruleCCI-001082medium
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
STIGDate
Oracle Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide2025-05-08

Details

Check Text (C-271747r1091953_chk)

Verify that OL 9 restricts access to exposed kernel pointers with the following command: $ sysctl kernel.kptr_restrict kernel.kptr_restrict = 1

Fix Text (F-75704r1091952_fix)

Configure OL 9 to prevent the leak of kernel pointers to unprivileged users. Add or edit the following line in /etc/sysctl.d/99-sysctl.conf system configuration file: kernel.kptr_restrict = 1 Reload settings from all system configuration files with the following command: $ sudo sysctl --system