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Enable init_on_free in GRUB kernel parameters

grub-init-on-free · RHEL ≥ 8 · 1 impl

Description

The init_on_free=1 kernel parameter must be set so the kernel zeroes memory pages when they are freed. This clears freed memory to detect and prevent use-after-free attacks.

Rationale

Zeroing memory at free time removes stale sensitive data from freed pages and causes use-after-free vulnerabilities to read zeroed memory instead of attacker-controlled data, making kernel memory-corruption bugs harder to exploit.

Check → Remediate

Checkgrub_parameter
key:
init_on_free
expected:
1
Remediategrub_parameter_set
key:
init_on_free
value:
1

Framework references

STIG

V-230279 / RHEL-08-010423V-257794 / RHEL-09-212045V-281303 / RHEL-10-701010

NIST 800-53

CM-6SC-4

Live verification

rhel10:checkrhel9:check
#grub#kernel#memory#security#boot