In Sudo before 1.9.12p2, the sudoedit (aka -e) feature mishandles extra arguments passed in the user-provided environment variables (SUDO_ED
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Plan (action score 48/100)
- A ready-made attack module is public (Metasploit); exploiting it takes no special expertise.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 55.3% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 99% of all records.
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: sudo (AlmaLinux:8) 1.8.29-8.el8_7.1; sudo (AlmaLinux:9) 1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1; sudo-python-plugin (AlmaLinux:9) 1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1.
Add it to your regular patch cycle. Upgrade to sudo (AlmaLinux:8) 1.8.29-8.el8_7.1; sudo (AlmaLinux:9) 1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1; sudo-python-plugin (AlmaLinux:9) 1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
In Sudo before 1.9.12p2, the sudoedit (aka -e) feature mishandles extra arguments passed in the user-provided environment variables (SUDO_EDITOR, VISUAL, and EDITOR), allowing a local attacker to append arbitrary entries to the list of files to process. This can lead to privilege escalation. Affected versions are 1.8.0 through 1.9.12.p1. The problem exists because a user-specified editor may contain a "--" argument that defeats a protection mechanism, e.g., an EDITOR='vim -- /path/to/extra/file' value.
- BDU:2023-00210
- ALSA-2023:0282
- ALSA-2023:0284
- DLA-3272-1
- DSA-5321-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12638-1
- RHSA-2023:0280
- RHSA-2023:0281
- RHSA-2023:0282
- RHSA-2023:0283
- RHSA-2023:0284
- RHSA-2023:0287
- RHSA-2023:0291
- RHSA-2023:0292
- RHSA-2023:0293
- RHSA-2023:0859
- RHSA-2023:3262
- RHSA-2023:3264
- RHSA-2023:3276
- RLSA-2023:0282
- Published
- Jan 18, 2023
- Updated
- Jun 17, 2026
- EPSS
- 55.3% · 99th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-269
Report tools
Action score
48
Plan
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 31 / 40 · 7.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 17 / 30 · 55.3%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- Weaponized exploit exists
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
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Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| sudo project | sudo | cpe:2.3:a:sudo_project:sudo |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
| apple | macos | cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- apple macosbefore 13.4
- debian debian linux10.0
- debian debian linux11.0
- fedoraproject fedora36
- fedoraproject fedora37
- sudo project sudo1.8.0 and later · before 1.9.12
- sudo project sudo1.9.12
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux:8 | sudo | before 1.8.29-8.el8_7.1 | 1.8.29-8.el8_7.1 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | sudo | before 1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 | 1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 |
| AlmaLinux:9 | sudo-python-plugin | before 1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 | 1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 |
| Alpine:v3.14 | sudo | from 1.8.0 · before 1.9.12_p2-r0 | 1.9.12_p2-r0 |
| Debian:10 | sudo | before 1.8.27-1+deb10u5 | 1.8.27-1+deb10u5 |
| Debian:11 | sudo | before 1.9.5p2-3+deb11u1 | 1.9.5p2-3+deb11u1 |
| Debian:12 | sudo | before 1.9.12p2-1 | 1.9.12p2-1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | sudo | before 1.9.12p2-1.1 | 1.9.12p2-1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | sudo | before 0:1.8.23-10.el7_9.3 | 0:1.8.23-10.el7_9.3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | sudo-debuginfo | before 0:1.8.23-10.el7_9.3 | 0:1.8.23-10.el7_9.3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | sudo-devel | before 0:1.8.23-10.el7_9.3 | 0:1.8.23-10.el7_9.3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | sudo | before 0:1.8.29-8.el8_7.1 | 0:1.8.29-8.el8_7.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | sudo-debuginfo | before 0:1.8.29-8.el8_7.1 | 0:1.8.29-8.el8_7.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | sudo-debugsource | before 0:1.8.29-8.el8_7.1 | 0:1.8.29-8.el8_7.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | sudo-debuginfo | before 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 | 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | sudo-debugsource | before 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 | 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | sudo-python-plugin | before 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 | 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream | sudo-python-plugin-debuginfo | before 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 | 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos | sudo | before 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 | 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:7.4::server | sudo | before 0:1.8.19p2-12.el7_4.3 | 0:1.8.19p2-12.el7_4.3 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:7.4::server | sudo-debuginfo | before 0:1.8.19p2-12.el7_4.3 | 0:1.8.19p2-12.el7_4.3 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:7.4::server | sudo-devel | before 0:1.8.19p2-12.el7_4.3 | 0:1.8.19p2-12.el7_4.3 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:7.6::server | sudo | before 0:1.8.23-3.el7_6.3 | 0:1.8.23-3.el7_6.3 |
| Red Hat:rhel_aus:7.6::server | sudo-debuginfo | before 0:1.8.23-3.el7_6.3 | 0:1.8.23-3.el7_6.3 |
+36
Same product
sudo project: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2021-3156Sudo before 1.9.5p2 contains an off-by-one error that can result in a heap-based buffer overflow, which allows privilege escalation to root KEV91Now
- CVE-2025-32463Sudo before 1.9.17p1 allows local users to obtain root access because /etc/nsswitch.conf from a user-controlled directory is used with the -KEV78This week
- CVE-2019-14287In Sudo before 1.8.28, an attacker with access to a Runas ALL sudoer account can bypass certain policy blacklists and session PAM modules, a54Plan
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2021-23240Jan 12, 2021 · selinux_edit_copy_tfiles in sudoedit in Sudo before 1.9.5 allows a local unprivileged user to gain file ownership and escalate privileges by31Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2022-43995Nov 2, 2022 · Sudo 1.8.0 through 1.9.12, with the crypt() password backend, contains a plugins/sudoers/auth/passwd.c array-out-of-bounds error that can re28Monitor
- Later →CVE-2023-27320Feb 28, 2023 · Sudo before 1.9.13p2 has a double free in the per-command chroot feature.28Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| almalinux:sudo | 1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 · AlmaLinux:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| almalinux:sudo-python-plugin | 1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 · AlmaLinux:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:sudo | 1.9.12_p2-r0 · Alpine:v3.14 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:sudo | 1.9.12p2-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:sudo | 1.9.9-150400.4.12.1 · openSUSE:Leap Micro 5.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:redhat-virtualization-host | 0:4.5.3-202302150956_8.6 · Red Hat:rhev_hypervisor:4.4::el8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:redhat-virtualization-host-image-update | 0:4.5.3-202302150956_8.6 · Red Hat:rhev_hypervisor:4.4::el8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:sudo | 0:1.8.25p1-8.el8_1.3 · Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:sudo-debuginfo | 0:1.8.25p1-8.el8_1.3 · Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:sudo-debugsource | 0:1.8.25p1-8.el8_1.3 · Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::baseos | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:sudo-devel | 0:1.8.6p3-29.el6_10.7 · Red Hat:rhel_els:6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:sudo-python-plugin | 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_0.2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.0::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:sudo-python-plugin-debuginfo | 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_0.2 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:9.0::appstream | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:sudo | 0:1.9.5p2-7.el9_1.1 · Rocky Linux:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:sudo | 1.8.10p3-10.44.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-BCL | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:sudo | 1.9.9-150400.4.12.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×1
- Exploit-DB entry ×1
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×12
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2023-04-03 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/linux/local/sudoedit_bypass_priv_escSudoedit Extra Arguments Priv Escexploit | 2023-01-18 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:164 | 2023-01-21 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:6 | 2023-02-22 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:6 | 2023-04-06 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2023-06-08 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:2 | 2023-06-20 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2023-06-25 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:6 | 2023-07-10 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:2 | 2023-08-06 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2024-08-26 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:2 | 2024-08-28 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Metasploit-1 d
- Published
- First PoC+2 d
- TodayOct 18, 2026+1369 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-269 · Improper Privilege ManagementCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Root cause
To simplify setup, a service account is granted broad, cluster-wide permissions. The principle of least privilege is skipped during installation.
The bug in code
The whole CWE-269 classA representative example of this vulnerability class. Not the vendor's source code; it shows the faulty pattern and its fix.
Vulnerable
kind: ClusterRolerules: - apiGroups: ["*"] resources: ["*"] verbs: ["*"]Fixed
kind: Rolemetadata: namespace: lodos-systemrules: - apiGroups: ["apps"] resources: ["deployments"] verbs: ["get", "list", "update"]Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (10 more)Show less
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/172509/Sudoedit-Extra-Arguments-Privilege-Escalation.html
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/174234/Cisco-ThousandEyes-Enterprise-Agent-Virtual-Appliance-Arbitrary-File-Modification.html
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Aug/21
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/01/msg00012.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2QDGFCGAV5QRJCE6IXRXIS4XJHS57DDH/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/G4YNBTTKTRT2ME3NTSXAPTOKYUE47XHZ/
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-12
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230127-0015/
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213758
- www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5321
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.