RHEL 9 must mount /var/log/audit with the noexec option.

STIG ID: RHEL-09-231165  |  SRG: SRG-OS-000368-GPOS-00154 | Severity: medium |  CCI: CCI-001764

Vulnerability Discussion

The "noexec" mount option causes the system to not execute binary files. This option must be used for mounting any file system not containing approved binary files, as they may be incompatible. Executing files from untrusted file systems increases the opportunity for nonprivileged users to attain unauthorized administrative access.

Check

Verify "/var/log/audit" is mounted with the "noexec" option:

$ mount | grep /var/log/audit

/dev/mapper/rhel-var-log-audit on /var/log/audit type xfs (rw,nodev,nosuid,noexec,seclabel)

If the "/var/log/audit" file system is mounted without the "noexec" option, this is a finding.

Fix

Modify "/etc/fstab" to use the "noexec" option on the "/var/log/audit" directory.