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CVE-2023-22809

Published: Jan 18, 2023Updated: Apr 4, 2025 Sources: CVE List NVD BDU csafCWE-269
NVD MITRE
7.8CVSSHIGH
EPSS Score
55.4%
Top 1.1%
CISA KEV
Not in KEV
Exploits
3 Known
Remediation
Patch Available

Description

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.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:LAC:LPR:LUI:NS:UC:HI:HA:H
Exploitability
AV:LAttack Vector
Local
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:LPrivileges Required
Low
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:HAvailability
High
Open in CVSS calculator →

Weaknesses

CWE-269

Affected Products

sudosudo project
Mixed
Operating Systems / unix-bsd
debian linuxdebian
On-premOS
Operating Systems / linux-distro
fedorafedoraproject
On-premOS
Operating Systems / linux-distro
macosapple
On-premOS
Operating Systems / unix-bsd
Red Hat Enterprise LinuxRed Hat Inc.
On-premOS
Operating Systems / linux-distro
sudo projectoss-projectUSOperating Systemsaka sudo
debianoss-projectGBOperating Systemsaka debian gnu/linux
fedoraprojectoss-projectUSOperating Systemsaka fedora project
applecommercialUSMobile Appsaka apple inc., apple computer
red hat inc.commercialUSOperating Systemsaka red hat
and 15 more affected products View all →

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

Click technique nodes to view MITRE ATT&CK details. Scroll to zoom, drag to pan.

Exploitability

3 exploit sources identified

Exploit details including PoC links, Metasploit modules, and scanner templates are available after registration.

View exploit details
Official Patch Available
Workaround Available

MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique
Privilege Escalation
View detailed technique mapping

References

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171644/sudo-1.9.12p1-Privilege-Escalation.html
packetstormsecurity.com
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172509/Sudoedit-Extra-Arguments-Privilege-Escalation.html
packetstormsecurity.com
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174234/Cisco-ThousandEyes-Enterprise-Agent-Virtual-Appliance-Arbitrary-File-Modification.html
packetstormsecurity.com
and 82 more references View all →

Timeline

Published
Jan 18, 2023
Last Updated
Apr 4, 2025

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