ExecShield is a security feature that was introduced in the Linux kernel to protect against buffer overflow attacks. It works by randomly arranging the memory layout of a program, making it more difficult for an attacker to predict where their injected code will be executed.
To disable ExecShield on a Linux system, you can use the following command:
echo 0 > /proc/sys/kernel/exec-shield
To re-enable ExecShield, use the following command:
echo 1 > /proc/sys/kernel/exec-shield
Note that these changes will not persist after a reboot. To make them permanent, you can add the appropriate command to a startup script or configuration file. For example, on a Red Hat-based system, you can add the command to the /etc/sysctl.conf file and it will be executed automatically at startup.
It is generally not recommended to disable ExecShield unless it is causing problems with specific software or you have other measures in place to protect against buffer overflow attacks.