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

RHEL 9 must implement address space layout randomization (ASLR) to protect its memory from unauthorized code execution.

DISA Rule

SV-257809r1208769_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-257809

Group Title

SRG-OS-000433-GPOS-00193

Rule Version

RHEL-09-213070

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-002824 - Implement organization-defined controls to protect its memory from unauthorized code execution.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 9 to implement ASLR.

$ echo 'kernel.randomize_va_space = 2' | sudo tee /etc/sysctl.d/99-kernel_randomize_va_space.conf

Remove any configurations that conflict with the above from the following locations:

/run/sysctl.d/*.conf
/usr/local/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf
/usr/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf
/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf
/etc/sysctl.conf
/etc/sysctl.d/*.conf

Issue the following command to make the changes take effect:

$ sudo sysctl --system

Check Contents

Verify RHEL 9 is implementing ASLR.

$ sudo sysctl kernel.randomize_va_space
kernel.randomize_va_space = 2

If "kernel.randomize_va_space" is not set to "2", this is a finding.

Check that the configuration files are present to enable this kernel parameter.

$ sudo grep -rs kernel.randomize_va_space /run/sysctl.d/*.conf /usr/local/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf /usr/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf /lib/sysctl.d/*.conf /etc/sysctl.conf /etc/sysctl.d/*.conf
/etc/sysctl.d/99-kernel_randomize_va_space.conf:kernel.randomize_va_space = 2

If "kernel.randomize_va_space" is not set to "2", or is missing or commented out, this is a finding.

If conflicting results are returned, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-257809

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-213070

Severity Override Guidance

Verify RHEL 9 is implementing ASLR.

$ sudo sysctl kernel.randomize_va_space
kernel.randomize_va_space = 2

If "kernel.randomize_va_space" is not set to "2", this is a finding.

Check that the configuration files are present to enable this kernel parameter.

$ sudo grep -rs kernel.randomize_va_space /run/sysctl.d/*.conf /usr/local/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf /usr/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf /lib/sysctl.d/*.conf /etc/sysctl.conf /etc/sysctl.d/*.conf
/etc/sysctl.d/99-kernel_randomize_va_space.conf:kernel.randomize_va_space = 2

If "kernel.randomize_va_space" is not set to "2", or is missing or commented out, this is a finding.

If conflicting results are returned, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5551