Cis Ubuntu1404 V210 1 5 4

---
name: "CIS Ubuntu 14.04 LTS - 1.5.4 Ensure prelink is disabled"
description: "Verify that prelink is disabled to prevent interference with AIDE integrity checking"
category: "cis-os-hardening"
version: "2.1.0"
author: "cyberstrike-official"
tags:
  - cis
  - ubuntu
  - ubuntu-14.04
  - level-1
  - scored
  - hardening
cis_id: "1.5.4"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Ubuntu Linux 14.04 LTS Benchmark v2.1.0"
tech_stack:
  - ubuntu
  - linux
cwe_ids: []
chains_with:
  - cis-ubuntu1404-v210-1-3-1
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: "medium"
---

# 1.5.4 Ensure prelink is disabled (Scored)

## Profile Applicability

- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation

## Description

`prelink` is a program that modifies ELF shared libraries and ELF dynamically linked binaries in such a way that the time needed for the dynamic linker to perform relocations at startup significantly decreases.

## Rationale

The prelinking feature can interfere with the operation of AIDE, because it changes binaries. Prelinking can also increase the vulnerability of the system if a malicious user is able to compromise a common library such as libc.

## Audit Procedure

Run the following command and verify `prelink` is not installed:

```bash
dpkg -s prelink
```

## Expected Result

The output should indicate that the package is not installed.

## Remediation

Run the following command to restore binaries to normal:

```bash
prelink -ua
```

Run the following command to uninstall `prelink`:

```bash
apt-get remove prelink
```

## Default Value

`prelink` is not installed by default.

## References

- CIS Controls: 3.5 Use File Integrity Tools For Critical System Files

## Profile

- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation