{"description": "To ensure that the kernel is configured to zero out memory before\nallocation, check that all boot entries in\n<tt>/boot/loader/entries/*.conf</tt> have <tt>init_on_alloc=1</tt>\nincluded in its options.<br />\n\nTo ensure that new kernels and boot entries continue to zero out memory\nbefore allocation, add <tt>init_on_alloc=1</tt> to <tt>/etc/kernel/cmdline</tt>.", "rationale": "When the kernel configuration option <tt>init_on_alloc</tt> is enabled,\nall page allocator and slab allocator memory will be zeroed when allocated,\neliminating many kinds of \"uninitialized heap memory\" flaws, effectively\npreventing data leaks.", "severity": "medium", "references": {"ospp": ["AVA_VAN.1"]}, "control_references": {}, "components": [], "identifiers": {}, "ocil_clause": "the kernel is not configured to zero out memory before allocation", "ocil": "To check that the kernel is configured to zero out memory before allocation\ntime, check all boot entries with following command:\n<pre>sudo grep -L\"^options\\s+.*\\binit_on_alloc=1\\b\" /boot/loader/entries/*.conf</pre>\nNo line should be returned, each line returned is a boot entry that doesn't enable audit.", "oval_external_content": null, "fixtext": "", "checktext": "", "vuldiscussion": "", "srg_requirement": "", "warnings": [], "conflicts": [], "requires": [], "policy_specific_content": {}, "platform": "machine", "platforms": ["machine"], "sce_metadata": {}, "inherited_platforms": ["s390x_arch"], "cpe_platform_names": ["machine"], "inherited_cpe_platform_names": ["s390x_arch"], "bash_conditional": null, "fixes": {}, "title": "Configure kernel to zero out memory before allocation in zIPL", "definition_location": "/aptdata/openscap/scap-security-guide/linux_os/guide/system/bootloader-zipl/zipl_init_on_alloc_argument/rule.yml", "template": {"name": "zipl_bls_entries_option", "vars": {"arg_name": "init_on_alloc", "arg_value": "1"}, "backends": {}}}