STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 8 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

RHEL 8 must restrict access to the kernel message buffer.

DISA Rule

SV-230269r1184255_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-230269

Group Title

SRG-OS-000138-GPOS-00069

Rule Version

RHEL-08-010375

Severity

CAT III

CCI(s)

• CCI-001090 - Prevent unauthorized and unintended information transfer via shared system resources.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 8 to restrict access to the kernel message buffer.

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

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

Add the following to the file:
kernel.dmesg_restrict = 1

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

$ sudo sysctl --system

Check Contents

Verify RHEL 8 is configured to restrict access to the kernel message buffer.

Check the status of the "kernel.dmesg_restrict" kernel parameter with the following command:

$ sudo sysctl kernel.dmesg_restrict
kernel.dmesg_restrict = 1

If "kernel.dmesg_restrict" is not set to "1" or is missing, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-230269

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-08-010375

Severity Override Guidance

Verify RHEL 8 is configured to restrict access to the kernel message buffer.

Check the status of the "kernel.dmesg_restrict" kernel parameter with the following command:

$ sudo sysctl kernel.dmesg_restrict
kernel.dmesg_restrict = 1

If "kernel.dmesg_restrict" is not set to "1" or is missing, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

2921