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

RHEL 8 must prevent kernel profiling by unprivileged users.

DISA Rule

SV-230270r1184258_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-230270

Group Title

SRG-OS-000138-GPOS-00069

Rule Version

RHEL-08-010376

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 prevent kernel profiling by nonprivileged users.

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

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

Add the following to the file:
kernel.perf_event_paranoid = 2

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

$ sudo sysctl --system

Check Contents

Verify RHEL 8 is configured to prevent kernel profiling by nonprivileged users.

Check the status of the "kernel.perf_event_paranoid" kernel parameter.

$ sudo sysctl kernel.perf_event_paranoid
kernel.perf_event_paranoid = 2

If "kernel.perf_event_paranoid" is not set to "2" or is missing, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-230270

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-08-010376

Severity Override Guidance

Verify RHEL 8 is configured to prevent kernel profiling by nonprivileged users.

Check the status of the "kernel.perf_event_paranoid" kernel parameter.

$ sudo sysctl kernel.perf_event_paranoid
kernel.perf_event_paranoid = 2

If "kernel.perf_event_paranoid" is not set to "2" or is missing, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

2921