---
title: "HOST-KRN-009 Unprivileged eBPF Allowed"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-KRN-009.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-KRN-009.html
site: OpenVAPT, https://openvapt.com/
license: OpenVAPT Source-Available Licence 1.3, https://openvapt.com/legal/licence-text.html
modified: 2026-10-14
version: 0.1.0-alpha.6
---

# HOST-KRN-009 Unprivileged eBPF Allowed

Checks that normal users cannot load eBPF programs into the kernel.

- Domain: Server
- Severity: Medium
- Control category: Secure Configuration
- Fix effort: low
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`
- CIS Controls v8: 4.1
- NIST CSF 2.0: PR.PS-01
- CWE: CWE-749
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: CM-6, SI-16
- Benchmark topic: Kernel parameters: kernel.unprivileged_bpf_disabled (topic only, no benchmark text)

## Why It Matters

Unprivileged eBPF has been the entry point for many local privilege-escalation bugs.

## How It Detects

Reads /proc/sys/kernel/unprivileged_bpf_disabled directly (no command is run) and compares it with the hardened value 1.

## How to Fix

Create /etc/sysctl.d/60-openvapt-hardening.conf containing:  kernel.unprivileged_bpf_disabled = 1  then apply with: sysctl --system

## How to Verify

```
sysctl kernel.unprivileged_bpf_disabled  should print 1.
```

## Learn the Theory

- [P1 Linux Server Hardening](https://openvapt.com/academy/p1.md)

## References

- [Linux kernel documentation, /proc/sys/kernel](https://docs.kernel.org/admin-guide/sysctl/kernel.html)

## Source Code

https://github.com/OpenVAPT/openvapt/blob/574f7f3333c44b75a3c649e2d93a76d507f75adf/internal/checks/host/kernel.go

Run it: `openvapt scan --only HOST-KRN-009`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain HOST-KRN-009`.

---

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