STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 9 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

RHEL 9 must prevent kernel profiling by nonprivileged users.

DISA Rule

SV-257798r1198253_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-257798

Group Title

SRG-OS-000132-GPOS-00067

Rule Version

RHEL-09-213015

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-001082 - Separate user functionality, including user interface services, from system management functionality.
• CCI-001090 - Prevent unauthorized and unintended information transfer via shared system resources.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 9 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 9 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-257798

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-213015

Severity Override Guidance

Verify RHEL 9 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

5551