Disable Core Dumps for All Users

Classification:

compliance

Framework:

Control:

Description

To disable core dumps for all users, add the following line to /etc/security/limits.conf, or to a file within the /etc/security/limits.d/ directory:

*     hard   core    0

Rationale

A core dump includes a memory image taken at the time the operating system terminates an application. The memory image could contain sensitive data and is generally useful only for developers trying to debug problems.

Remediation

Shell script

The following script can be run on the host to remediate the issue.

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if dpkg-query --show --showformat='${db:Status-Status}\n' 'libpam-runtime' 2>/dev/null | grep -q installed; then

SECURITY\_LIMITS\_FILE="/etc/security/limits.conf"

if grep -qE '^\s\*\\*\s+hard\s+core' $SECURITY\_LIMITS\_FILE; then
 sed -ri 's/(hard\s+core\s+)[[:digit:]]+/\1 0/' $SECURITY\_LIMITS\_FILE
else
 echo "\* hard core 0" >> $SECURITY\_LIMITS\_FILE
fi

if ls /etc/security/limits.d/\*.conf > /dev/null; then
 sed -ri '/^\s\*\\*\s+hard\s+core/d' /etc/security/limits.d/\*.conf
fi

else
 >&2 echo 'Remediation is not applicable, nothing was done'
fi

Ansible playbook

The following playbook can be run with Ansible to remediate the issue.

- name: Gather the package facts
 package\_facts:
 manager: auto
 tags:
 - NIST-800-53-CM-6
 - NIST-800-53-SC-7(10)
 - PCI-DSSv4-3.3.1.1
 - PCI-DSSv4-3.3.1.2
 - PCI-DSSv4-3.3.1.3
 - disable\_users\_coredumps
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed
 - restrict\_strategy

- name: Disable core dumps with limits
 lineinfile:
 dest: /etc/security/limits.conf
 regexp: ^[^#].\*core
 line: '\* hard core 0'
 create: true
 when: '"libpam-runtime" in ansible\_facts.packages'
 tags:
 - NIST-800-53-CM-6
 - NIST-800-53-SC-7(10)
 - PCI-DSSv4-3.3.1.1
 - PCI-DSSv4-3.3.1.2
 - PCI-DSSv4-3.3.1.3
 - disable\_users\_coredumps
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed
 - restrict\_strategy