STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 2 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

RHEL 10 must clear memory when it is freed to prevent use-after-free attacks.

DISA Rule

SV-281303r1167059_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-281303

Group Title

SRG-OS-000134-GPOS-00068

Rule Version

RHEL-10-701010

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-001084 - Isolate security functions from nonsecurity functions.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure RHEL 10 to enable "init_on_free" with the following command:

$ sudo grubby --update-kernel=ALL --args="init_on_free=1"

Check Contents

Verify RHEL 10 is configured so that the current GRUB2 configuration mitigates use-after-free vulnerabilities by employing memory poisoning.

Check that the current GRUB2 configuration mitigates use-after-free vulnerabilities by employing memory poisoning with the following command:

$ sudo grubby --info=ALL | grep args | grep -v init_on_free=1

If any output is returned, this is a finding.

Check that page poisoning is enabled by default to persist in kernel updates with the following command:

$ sudo grep grub_cmdline_linux /etc/default/grub
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="... init_on_free=1"

If "init_on_free=1" is missing or commented out, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-281303

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-10-701010

Severity Override Guidance

Verify RHEL 10 is configured so that the current GRUB2 configuration mitigates use-after-free vulnerabilities by employing memory poisoning.

Check that the current GRUB2 configuration mitigates use-after-free vulnerabilities by employing memory poisoning with the following command:

$ sudo grubby --info=ALL | grep args | grep -v init_on_free=1

If any output is returned, this is a finding.

Check that page poisoning is enabled by default to persist in kernel updates with the following command:

$ sudo grep grub_cmdline_linux /etc/default/grub
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="... init_on_free=1"

If "init_on_free=1" is missing or commented out, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5733