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mediumsystemverified rollback-safe

Disable unprivileged user namespaces

user-namespaces-disabled · RHEL ≥ 8 · 1 impl

Description

The user.max_user_namespaces sysctl should be set to 0 to disable unprivileged user namespaces unless specifically required.

Rationale

User namespaces allow unprivileged users to create privileged contexts which have been used in numerous kernel exploits. Disabling them reduces the attack surface.

Check → Remediate

Checksysctl_value
key:
user.max_user_namespaces
expected:
0
Remediatesysctl_set
key:
user.max_user_namespaces
value:
0

Framework references

STIG

V-230548V-257816

NIST 800-53

CM-6

Live verification

rhel8:checkrhel9:check
#sysctl#namespaces#kernel#security#stig