Kernel Parameters

• Kernel Parameters
  • Hardening the Security of Kernel Parameters

Hardening the Security of Kernel Parameters

Description

Kernel parameters specify the status of network configurations and application privileges. The kernel provides system control which can be fine-tuned or configured by users. This function can improve the security of the OS by controlling configurable kernel parameters. For example, you can fine-tune or configure network options to improve system security.

Implementation

1. Write the hardening items in Table 1 to the /etc/sysctl.conf file.

   NOTE:
   Writesecurity hardening items as follows:

   net.ipv4.icmp_echo_ignore_broadcasts = 1  
   net.ipv4.conf.all.rp_filter = 1  
   net.ipv4.conf.default.rp_filter = 1  
   

   Table 1 Policies for hardening the security of kernel parameters

   Item	Description	Suggestion	Configured as Suggested
   net.ipv4.icmp_echo_ignore_broadcasts	Specifies whether ICMP broadcast packets are accepted. They are not accepted according to the hardening policy.	1	Yes
   net.ipv4.conf.all.rp_filter	Specifies whether the actual source IP address used by a data packet is related to a routing table and whether the data packet receives responses through interfaces. The item is enabled according to the hardening policy.	1	Yes
   net.ipv4.conf.default.rp_filter		1	Yes
   net.ipv4.ip_forward	The IP forwarding function prevents unauthorized IP address packets from being transferred to a network. The item is disabled according to the hardening policy.	0	Yes
   net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_source_route	accept_source_route indicates that a packet sender can specify a path for sending the packet and a path for receiving a response. The item is disabled according to the hardening policy.	0	Yes
   net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route		0	Yes
   net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_redirects	Specifies whether a redirected ICMP packet is sent. The packet is not sent according to the hardening policy.	0	Yes
   net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_redirects		0	Yes
   net.ipv6.conf.all.accept_redirects		0	Yes
   net.ipv6.conf.default.accept_redirects		0	Yes
   net.ipv4.conf.all.send_redirects	Specifies whether a redirected ICMP packet is sent to another server. This item is enabled only when the host functions as a route. The item is disabled according to the hardening policy.	0	Yes
   net.ipv4.conf.default.send_redirects		0	Yes
   net.ipv4.icmp_ignore_bogus_error_responses	Fake ICMP packets are not recorded to logs, which saves disk space. The item is enabled according to the hardening policy.	1	Yes
   net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies	SYN attack is a DoS attack that forces system restart by occupying system resources. TCP-SYN cookie protection is enabled according to the hardening policy.	1	Yes
   kernel.dmesg_restrict	Hardens dmesg messages. Only the administrator is allowed to view the messages.	1	Yes
   kernel.sched_autogroup_enabled	Determines whether the kernel automatically groups and schedules threads. After this item is enabled, scheduling groups compete for time slices, and threads in a scheduling group compete for the time slices allocated to the scheduling group. The item is disabled according to the hardening policy.	0	No
   kernel.sysrq	Disables the magic key. NOTE: You are advised to disable the magic key so that commands cannot be directly passed to the kernel.	0	Yes
   net.ipv4.conf.all.secure_redirects	Specifies whether redirected ICMP messages sent from any servers or from gateways listed in the default gateway list are accepted. Redirected ICMP messages are received from any servers according to the hardening policy.	0	Yes
   net.ipv4.conf.default.secure_redirects		0	Yes

2. Run the following command to load the kernel parameters set in the sysctl.conf file:

   sysctl -p  /etc/sysctl.conf
   

Other Security Suggestions

• net.ipv4.icmp_echo_ignore_all: ignores ICMP requests.

  For security purposes, you are advised to enable this item. The default value is 0. Set the value to 1 to enable this item.

  After this item is enabled, all incoming ICMP Echo request packets will be ignored, which will cause failure to ping the target host. Determine whether to enable this item based on your actual networking condition.

• net.ipv4.conf.all.log_martians/net.ipv4.conf.default.log_martians: logs spoofed, source routed, and redirect packets.

  For security purposes, you are advised to enable this item. The default value is 0. Set the value to 1 to enable this item.

  After this item is enabled, data from forbidden IP addresses will be logged. Too many new logs will overwrite old logs because the total number of logs allowed is fixed. Determine whether to enable this item based on your actual usage scenario.

• net.ipv4.tcp_timestamps: disables tcp_timestamps.

  For security purposes, you are advised to disable tcp_timestamps. The default value is 1. Set the value to 0 to disable tcp_timestamps.

  After this item is disabled, TCP retransmission timeout will be affected. Determine whether to disable this item based on the actual usage scenario.

• net.ipv4.tcp_max_syn_backlog: determines the number of queues that is in SYN_RECV state.

  This parameter determines the number of queues that is in SYN_RECV state. When this number is exceeded, new TCP connection requests will not be accepted. This to some extent prevents system resource exhaustion. Configure this parameter based on your actual usage scenario.