The system must implement non-executable program stacks.

From Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with IA controls: ECCD-2, ECSC-1, ECCD-1

Associated with: CCI-000366

SV-27414r1_rule The system must implement non-executable program stacks.

Vulnerability discussion

A common type of exploit is the stack buffer overflow. An application receives, from an attacker, more data than it is prepared for and stores this information on its stack, writing beyond the space reserved for it. This can be designed to cause execution of the data written on the stack. One mechanism to mitigate this vulnerability is for the system to not allow the execution of instructions in sections of memory identified as part of the stack.

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Fix text

Examine /etc/sysctl.conf for "kernel.exec-shield" and "kernel.randomize_va_space" entries and if found remove them. The system default of "1" enables these modules.

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