Hardened Malloc/Manual Installation

Kicksecure ™

Download

On Computer USB Installation Debian morph to Kicksecure Windows (VM) Linux (VM) Mac (VM) VirtualBox (VM) KVM (VM) Qubes (VM) More options Source Code

About

Overview Features Why Open Source? Project Activities Contributors Mission & Vision

Docs

Documentation FAQ Troubleshooting

Community

Forums Forum Best Practices Contribute

Support

Self Support First Policy Search Engines, Docs and AI Support (Limited) Reporting Bugs Contact (Restricted)

Tools Upload file Special pages Recent changes Print VersionDebug Helper Page meta What links here Related changes Page information

Page Read Edit History Move Protection Unwatch Watch Delete Purge

User Preferences Watchlist Contributions Logout Create account Login

Donate

memory allocator for many applications to increase security - manual installation

Look into Hardened Malloc first.

Install Hardened Malloc Copy or share this direct link! Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Install_Hardened_Malloc Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [[Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Install_Hardened_Malloc|Install Hardened Malloc]]
Copy as Wikitext Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [Install Hardened Malloc](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Install_Hardened_Malloc)
for Discourse, reddit, GitHub Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [Install Hardened Malloc](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Install_Hardened_Malloc)
Copy as Markdown Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [url=https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Install_Hardened_Malloc]Install Hardened Malloc[/url]
Copy as phpBB Click below ↴ = Open social URL with share data We don't use embedded scripts This share button is completely self-hosted by this webserver. No scripts from any of the social networks are embedded on this webserver. See also Social Share Button.

Users of Linux distributions that are not based on Debian must compile Hardened Malloc from source. To do this, it is necessary to install g++ for compilation.

1. Update the package lists.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudo apt update

2. Install g++, and git to clone the repository.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudo apt install g++ git

3. The following block explains how to download and signature verify hardened malloc.

While git is cryptographically secure, it is not foolproof. See Web of Trust and How safe are signed git tags? Only as safe as SHA-1 or somehow safer? for further information.

Run the following commands in a terminal to download and verify the signing key and source code.

Retrieve the signing key.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! scurl-download https://github.com/thestinger.gpg

Verify the key fingerprint.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! gpg --keyid-format long --with-fingerprint thestinger.gpg

Should show.

gpg: WARNING: no command supplied. Trying to guess what you mean ...

pub rsa4096/F9E712E59AF5F22A 2012-12-06 [SC]
Key fingerprint = 65EE FE02 2108 E2B7 08CB FCF7 F9E7 12E5 9AF5 F22A
uid Daniel Micay <danielmicay@gmail.com>
uid Daniel Micay <daniel.micay@copperhead.co>
uid Daniel Micay <security@attestation.app>
uid Daniel Micay <security@seamlessupdate.app>
uid Daniel Micay <security@grapheneos.org>

sub rsa4096/7363D2F61FDC8A7F 2012-12-06 [E]

Import the key.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! gpg --import thestinger.gpg

Get the source code.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! git clone https://github.com/GrapheneOS/hardened_malloc

Navigate to the hardened_malloc folder.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! cd hardened_malloc

Always verify software signatures! Check the hardened malloc signature.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! git tag --verify 8

Should show.

object d80919fa1e8042a070a3f9b2560ff2ecac8a75da

type commit tag 8 tagger Daniel Micay <danielmicay@gmail.com> 1562939118 -0400

8 gpg: Signature made Fri 12 Jul 2019 09:45:21 AM EDT gpg: using RSA key 65EEFE022108E2B708CBFCF7F9E712E59AF5F22A gpg: issuer "danielmicay@gmail.com" gpg: Good signature from "Daniel Micay <danielmicay@gmail.com>" [unknown] gpg: aka "Daniel Micay <security@attestation.app>" [unknown] gpg: aka "Daniel Micay <security@seamlessupdate.app>" [unknown] gpg: aka "Daniel Micay <security@grapheneos.org>" [unknown] gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature! gpg: There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner.

Primary key fingerprint: 65EE FE02 2108 E2B7 08CB FCF7 F9E7 12E5 9AF5 F22A

4. Checkout the tag.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! git checkout 8

5. Build the program.

This will only take a few seconds, depending on your system's resources.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! make

6. Move the hardened_malloc library to the system library folder

Create folder /usr/lib/libhardened_malloc.so

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudo mkdir -p /usr/lib/libhardened_malloc.so

Move the library.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudo mv libhardened_malloc.so /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libhardened_malloc-light.so

7. Set SUID (set-user-id).

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudo chmod u+s /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libhardened_malloc.so

8. Done.

Installation of Hardened Malloc has been completed.

How-to: Launch Applications with Hardened Malloc Copy or share this direct link! Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#How-to:_Launch_Applications_with_Hardened_Malloc Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [[Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#How-to:_Launch_Applications_with_Hardened_Malloc|How-to: Launch Applications with Hardened Malloc]]
Copy as Wikitext Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [How-to: Launch Applications with Hardened Malloc](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#How-to:_Launch_Applications_with_Hardened_Malloc)
for Discourse, reddit, GitHub Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [How-to: Launch Applications with Hardened Malloc](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#How-to:_Launch_Applications_with_Hardened_Malloc)
Copy as Markdown Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [url=https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#How-to:_Launch_Applications_with_Hardened_Malloc]How-to: Launch Applications with Hardened Malloc[/url]
Copy as phpBB Click below ↴ = Open social URL with share data We don't use embedded scripts This share button is completely self-hosted by this webserver. No scripts from any of the social networks are embedded on this webserver. See also Social Share Button.

Systemd Services Copy or share this direct link! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Systemd_Services Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard [[Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Systemd_Services|Systemd Services]]
Copy as Wikitext [Systemd Services](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Systemd_Services)
for Discourse, reddit, GitHub [Systemd Services](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Systemd_Services)
Copy as Markdown [url=https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Systemd_Services]Systemd Services[/url]
Copy as phpBB Click below ↴ = Open social URL with share data We don't use embedded scripts This share button is completely self-hosted by this webserver. No scripts from any of the social networks are embedded on this webserver. See also Social Share Button.

To launch individual systemd services with hardened malloc, add drop a systemd configuration snippet.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! Environment="LD_PRELOAD='libhardened_malloc.so'"

Other Applications Copy or share this direct link! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Other_Applications Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard [[Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Other_Applications|Other Applications]]
Copy as Wikitext [Other Applications](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Other_Applications)
for Discourse, reddit, GitHub [Other Applications](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Other_Applications)
Copy as Markdown [url=https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Other_Applications]Other Applications[/url]
Copy as phpBB Click below ↴ = Open social URL with share data We don't use embedded scripts This share button is completely self-hosted by this webserver. No scripts from any of the social networks are embedded on this webserver. See also Social Share Button.

To launch other applications with Hardened Malloc, the LD_PRELOAD environment variable must be edited before starting the application. For example, to launch application-name in this way, run.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! LD_PRELOAD='libhardened_malloc.so' application-name

All Applications by Default Copy or share this direct link! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#All_Applications_by_Default Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard [[Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#All_Applications_by_Default|All Applications by Default]]
Copy as Wikitext [All Applications by Default](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#All_Applications_by_Default)
for Discourse, reddit, GitHub [All Applications by Default](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#All_Applications_by_Default)
Copy as Markdown [url=https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#All_Applications_by_Default]All Applications by Default[/url]
Copy as phpBB Click below ↴ = Open social URL with share data We don't use embedded scripts This share button is completely self-hosted by this webserver. No scripts from any of the social networks are embedded on this webserver. See also Social Share Button.

Note: This action may break numerous applications such as man, apt or Xorg.

It is possible to make all applications use Hardened Malloc as the default memory allocator. To configure this option, the path to the hardened_malloc.so library must be added to the /etc/ld.so.preload file.

1. Open file /etc/ld.so.preload in an editor with root rights.

• Kicksecure
• Kicksecure for Qubes
• Others and Alternatives

Kicksecure

See Open File with Root Rights for detailed instructions on why to use sudoedit for better security and how to use it.

Note: Mousepad (or the chosen text editor) must be closed before running the sudoedit command.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudoedit /etc/ld.so.preload

Kicksecure for Qubes

NOTES:

• When using Kicksecure-Qubes, this needs to be done inside the Template.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudoedit /etc/ld.so.preload

• After applying this change, shutdown the Template.
• All App Qubes based on the Template need to be restarted if they were already running.
• This is a general procedure required for Qubes and unspecific to Kicksecure for Qubes.

Others and Alternatives

• This is just an example. Other tools could achieve the same goal.
• If this example does not work for you or if you are not using Kicksecure, please refer to this link.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! sudoedit /etc/ld.so.preload

2. Add the hardened_malloc.so library.

Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! libhardened_malloc.so

3. Save the file.

The procedure is complete.

Footnotes Copy or share this direct link! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Footnotes Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard [[Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Footnotes|Footnotes]]
Copy as Wikitext [Footnotes](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Footnotes)
for Discourse, reddit, GitHub [Footnotes](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Footnotes)
Copy as Markdown [url=https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation#Footnotes]Footnotes[/url]
Copy as phpBB Click below ↴ = Open social URL with share data We don't use embedded scripts This share button is completely self-hosted by this webserver. No scripts from any of the social networks are embedded on this webserver. See also Social Share Button.

Kicksecure A secure by default operating system with the latest security research in place. Copy or share this direct link! Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation Click below ↴ = Copy to Clipboard Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [[Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation|Hardened Malloc/Manual Installation - Kicksecure]]
Copy as Wikitext Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [Hardened Malloc/Manual Installation - Kicksecure](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation)
for Discourse, reddit, GitHub Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [Hardened Malloc/Manual Installation - Kicksecure](https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation)
Copy as Markdown Click = Copy Copied to clipboard! [url=https://www.kicksecure.com/wiki/Hardened_Malloc/Manual_Installation]Hardened Malloc/Manual Installation - Kicksecure[/url]
Copy as phpBB Click below ↴ = Open social URL with share data We don't use embedded scripts This share button is completely self-hosted by this webserver. No scripts from any of the social networks are embedded on this webserver. See also Social Share Button.

Dark mode

Follow us on social media

Supported by Power Up Privacy

Kicksecure is proudly supported until 2025 by Power Up Privacy, a privacy advocacy group that seeks to supercharge privacy projects with resources so they can complete their mission of making our world a better place. (Strictly subject to our sponsorship policy.)

At Kicksecure we value freedom and trust, supporting Open Source and Freedom Software

By using this website, you acknowledge you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these agreements: Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, E-Sign Consent, DMCA, Imprint 2012- 2025 ENCRYPTED SUPPORT LLC

Your support makes
all the difference!

We believe security software like Kicksecure needs to remain Open Source and independent. Would you help sustain and grow the project? Learn more about our 12 year success story and maybe DONATE!