// For flags

CVE-2023-22809

sudo 1.8.0 to 1.9.12p1 - Privilege Escalation

Severity Score

7.8
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

19
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Track*
*SSVC
Descriptions

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.

En Sudo anterior a 1.9.12p2, la función sudoedit (también conocida como -e) maneja mal argumentos adicionales pasados en las variables de entorno proporcionadas por el usuario (SUDO_EDITOR, VISUAL y EDITOR), permitiendo a un atacante local agregar entradas arbitrarias a la lista de archivos para procesar. . Esto puede conducir a una escalada de privilegios. Las versiones afectadas son 1.8.0 a 1.9.12.p1. El problema existe porque un editor especificado por el usuario puede contener un argumento "--" que anula un mecanismo de protección, por ejemplo, un valor EDITOR='vim -- /path/to/extra/file'.

A vulnerability was found in sudo. Exposure in how sudoedit handles user-provided environment variables leads to arbitrary file writing with privileges of the RunAs user (usually root). The prerequisite for exploitation is that the current user must be authorized by the sudoers policy to edit a file using sudoedit.

The redhat-virtualization-host packages provide the Red Hat Virtualization Host. These packages include redhat-release-virtualization-host, ovirt-node, and rhev-hypervisor. Red Hat Virtualization Hosts are installed using a special build of Red Hat Enterprise Linux with only the packages required to host virtual machines. RHVH features a Cockpit user interface for monitoring the host's resources and performing administrative tasks. The ovirt-node-ng packages provide the Red Hat Virtualization Host. These packages include redhat-release-virtualization-host, ovirt-node, and rhev-hypervisor. Red Hat Virtualization Hosts are installed using a special build of Red Hat Enterprise Linux with only the packages required to host virtual machines. RHVH features a Cockpit user interface for monitoring the host's resources and performing administrative tasks. Issues addressed include code execution and integer overflow vulnerabilities.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
Single
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Track*
Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Tech. Impact
Total
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2023-01-06 CVE Reserved
  • 2023-01-18 CVE Published
  • 2023-02-15 First Exploit
  • 2025-04-04 CVE Updated
  • 2025-06-17 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
CWE
  • CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management
CAPEC
References (32)
URL Date SRC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Sudo Project
Search vendor "Sudo Project"
Sudo
Search vendor "Sudo Project" for product "Sudo"
>= 1.8.0 < 1.9.12
Search vendor "Sudo Project" for product "Sudo" and version " >= 1.8.0 < 1.9.12"
-
Affected
Sudo Project
Search vendor "Sudo Project"
Sudo
Search vendor "Sudo Project" for product "Sudo"
1.9.12
Search vendor "Sudo Project" for product "Sudo" and version "1.9.12"
-
Affected
Sudo Project
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Sudo
Search vendor "Sudo Project" for product "Sudo"
1.9.12
Search vendor "Sudo Project" for product "Sudo" and version "1.9.12"
p1
Affected
Debian
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Debian Linux
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10.0
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-
Affected
Debian
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Debian Linux
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11.0
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-
Affected
Fedoraproject
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Fedora
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36
Search vendor "Fedoraproject" for product "Fedora" and version "36"
-
Affected
Fedoraproject
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Fedora
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37
Search vendor "Fedoraproject" for product "Fedora" and version "37"
-
Affected
Apple
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Macos
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< 13.4
Search vendor "Apple" for product "Macos" and version " < 13.4"
-
Affected