Todd Miller sudo 1.9.14/1.9.15/1.9.16/1.9.17 -R/--chroot access control

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Todd Miller sudo 1.9.14/1.9.15/1.9.16/1.9.17. This impacts an unknown function. This manipulation of the argument -R/--chroot causes access control. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2025-32463. The attack needs to be launched locally. Furthermore, an exploit is available. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Todd Miller sudo 1.9.14/1.9.15/1.9.16/1.9.17 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality. The manipulation of the argument -R/--chroot with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-284. The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Sudo before 1.9.17p1 allows local users to obtain root access because /etc/nsswitch.conf from a user-controlled directory is used with the --chroot option.

It is possible to read the advisory at stratascale.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-32463 since 04/09/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. Attacking locally is a requirement. Technical details and also a public exploit are known. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1068 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

It is possible to download the exploit at exploit-db.com. It is declared as attacked. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 241038 (SUSE SLED15 / SLES15 / openSUSE 15 Security Update : sudo (SUSE-SU-2025:02177-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. The CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog lists this issue since 09/29/2025 with a due date of 10/20/2025:

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Applying the patch 1.9.17p1 is able to eliminate this problem.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (52352), Tenable (241038), EUVD (EUVD-2025-19673) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1428). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• IBM Power Hardware Management Console
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Fedora Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• HPE Switch
• Gentoo Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• Xerox FreeFlow Print Server
• NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
• NetApp Data ONTAP
• Open Source sudo
• Red Hat OpenShift
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• Meinberg LANTIME

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System Utility Software

Vendor

• Todd Miller

Name

• sudo

Version

• 1.9.14
• 1.9.15
• 1.9.16
• 1.9.17

License

• open-source

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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