The operating system must implement non-executable data to protect its memory from unauthorized code execution.

From General Purpose Operating System SRG

Associated with: CCI-002824

SV-70985r1_rule The operating system must implement non-executable data to protect its memory from unauthorized code execution.

Vulnerability discussion

Some adversaries launch attacks with the intent of executing code in non-executable regions of memory or in memory locations that are prohibited. Security safeguards employed to protect memory include, for example, data execution prevention and address space layout randomization. Data execution prevention safeguards can either be hardware-enforced or software-enforced with hardware providing the greater strength of mechanism.Examples of attacks are buffer overflow attacks.

Check content

Verify the operating system implements non-executable data to protect its memory from unauthorized code execution. If it does not, this is a finding.

Fix text

Configure the operating system to implement non-executable data to protect its memory from unauthorized code execution.

Pro Tips

Lavender hyperlinks in small type off to the right (of CSS class id, if you view the page source) point to globally unique URIs for each document and item. Copy the link location and paste anywhere you need to talk unambiguously about these things.

You can obtain data about documents and items in other formats. Simply provide an HTTP header Accept: text/turtle or Accept: application/rdf+xml.