Enable heap memory zeroing on free by default
configname: CONFIG_INIT_ON_FREE_DEFAULT_ON
Linux Kernel Configuration
└─>Security options
└─>Kernel hardening options
└─>Memory initialization
└─>Enable heap memory zeroing on free by default
In linux kernel since version 5.1 (release Date: 2019-05-05)
This has the effect of setting "init_on_free=1" on the kernel
command line. This can be disabled with "init_on_free=0".
Similar to "init_on_alloc", when "init_on_free" is enabled,
all page allocator and slab allocator memory will be zeroed
when freed, eliminating many kinds of "uninitialized heap memory"
flaws, especially heap content exposures. The primary difference
with "init_on_free" is that data lifetime in memory is reduced,
as anything freed is wiped immediately, making live forensics or
cold boot memory attacks unable to recover freed memory contents.
The performance impact varies by workload, but is more expensive
than "init_on_alloc" due to the negative cache effects of
touching "cold" memory areas. Most cases see 3-5% impact. Some
synthetic workloads have measured as high as 8%.
command line. This can be disabled with "init_on_free=0".
Similar to "init_on_alloc", when "init_on_free" is enabled,
all page allocator and slab allocator memory will be zeroed
when freed, eliminating many kinds of "uninitialized heap memory"
flaws, especially heap content exposures. The primary difference
with "init_on_free" is that data lifetime in memory is reduced,
as anything freed is wiped immediately, making live forensics or
cold boot memory attacks unable to recover freed memory contents.
The performance impact varies by workload, but is more expensive
than "init_on_alloc" due to the negative cache effects of
touching "cold" memory areas. Most cases see 3-5% impact. Some
synthetic workloads have measured as high as 8%.