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 nonexecutable data to protect its memory from unauthorized code execution.

DISA Rule

SV-257817r1069383_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-257817

Group Title

SRG-OS-000433-GPOS-00192

Rule Version

RHEL-09-213110

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

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

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

If /proc/cpuinfo shows that one or more processors do not enable ExecShield (lack the "nx" feature flag), verify that the NX/XD feature is not disabled in the BIOS or UEFI. If it is disabled, enable it.

If the noexec option is present on the kernel command line, update the GRUB 2 bootloader configuration to remove it by running the following command:

$ sudo grubby --update-kernel=ALL --remove-args=noexec

Check Contents

Verify ExecShield is enabled on 64-bit RHEL 9 systems.

Run the following command:

$ grep ^flags /proc/cpuinfo | grep -Ev '([^[:alnum:]])(nx)([^[:alnum:]]|$)'

If any output is returned, this is a finding.

Next, run the following command:

$ sudo grubby --info=ALL | grep args | grep -E '([^[:alnum:]])(noexec)([^[:alnum:]])'

If any output is returned, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-257817

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-213110

Severity Override Guidance

Verify ExecShield is enabled on 64-bit RHEL 9 systems.

Run the following command:

$ grep ^flags /proc/cpuinfo | grep -Ev '([^[:alnum:]])(nx)([^[:alnum:]]|$)'

If any output is returned, this is a finding.

Next, run the following command:

$ sudo grubby --info=ALL | grep args | grep -E '([^[:alnum:]])(noexec)([^[:alnum:]])'

If any output is returned, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5551