The Ubuntu operating system must restrict access to the kernel message buffer.

An XCCDF Rule

Description

<VulnDiscussion>Restricting access to the kernel message buffer limits access only to root. This prevents attackers from gaining additional system information as a nonprivileged user.</VulnDiscussion><FalsePositives></FalsePositives><FalseNegatives></FalseNegatives><Documentable>false</Documentable><Mitigations></Mitigations><SeverityOverrideGuidance></SeverityOverrideGuidance><PotentialImpacts></PotentialImpacts><ThirdPartyTools></ThirdPartyTools><MitigationControl></MitigationControl><Responsibility></Responsibility><IAControls></IAControls>

ID: SV-255913r880908_rule
Severity: Low
References: CCI-001090
Updated: 8 months ago

Configure the operating system to restrict access to the kernel message buffer.

Set the system to the required kernel parameter by adding or modifying the following line in /etc/sysctl.conf or a config file in the /etc/sysctl.d/ directory:

     kernel.dmesg_restrict = 1
Remove any configurations that conflict with the above from the following locations: 
     /run/sysctl.d/
     /etc/sysctl.d/
     /usr/local/lib/sysctl.d/
     /usr/lib/sysctl.d/
     /lib/sysctl.d/
     /etc/sysctl.conf

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

     $ sudo sysctl --system

The Ubuntu operating system must restrict access to the kernel message buffer.

Description

Remediation - Manual Procedure