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

ASLR makes it more difficult for an attacker to predict the location of attack code they have introduced into a process' address space during an attempt at exploitation. Additionally, ASLR makes it more difficult for an attacker to know the location of existing code to repurpose it using return-oriented programming (ROP) techniques.

Verify that OL 9 is implementing ASLR with the following command: $ sysctl kernel.randomize_va_space kernel.randomize_va_space = 2 If "kernel.randomize_va_space" is not set to "2" or is missing, this is a finding.

Configure OL 9 to implement address space layout randomization (ASLR) to protect its memory from unauthorized code execution. Add or edit the following line in a system configuration file in the "/etc/sysctl.d/" directory: kernel.randomize_va_space = 2 Reload settings from all system configuration files with the following command: $ sudo sysctl --system