The Photon operating system must implement address space layout randomization (ASLR) to protect its memory from unauthorized code execution.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-256535 | PHTN-30-000065 | SV-256535r958928_rule | Medium |
| Description |
| ASLR makes it more difficult for an attacker to predict the location of attack code they have introduced into a process's address space during an attempt at exploitation. ASLR also makes it more difficult for an attacker to know the location of existing code to repurpose it using return-oriented programming (ROP) techniques. |
| STIG | Date |
| VMware vSphere 7.0 vCenter Appliance Photon OS Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2024-12-16 |
Details
| Check Text (C-60210r887277_chk) |
| At the command line, run the following command: # cat /proc/sys/kernel/randomize_va_space If the value of "randomize_va_space" is not "2", this is a finding. |
| Fix Text (F-60153r887278_fix) |
| Navigate to and open: /etc/sysctl.d/50-security-hardening.conf Ensure the "randomize_va_space" is uncommented and set to the following: kernel.randomize_va_space=2 At the command line, run the following command: # sysctl --system |