CVE-2023-22809 : In Sudo before 1.9.12p2, the sudoedit (aka -e) feature mishandles extra argument

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.

Published 2023-01-18 17:15:10

Updated 2023-11-17 19:32:57

Source MITRE

View at NVD, CVE.org

Vulnerability category: Gain privilege

Products affected by CVE-2023-22809

Debian » Debian Linux » Version: 10.0
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Debian » Debian Linux » Version: 11.0
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Apple » Macos
Versions before (<) 13.4
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Fedoraproject » Fedora » Version: 36
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:36:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Fedoraproject » Fedora » Version: 37
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Sudo Project » Sudo
Versions from including (>=) 1.8.0 and before (<) 1.9.12
cpe:2.3:a:sudo_project:sudo:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Sudo Project » Sudo » Version: 1.9.12
cpe:2.3:a:sudo_project:sudo:1.9.12:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions
Sudo Project » Sudo » Version: 1.9.12 Update P1
cpe:2.3:a:sudo_project:sudo:1.9.12:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
Matching versions

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2023-22809

EPSS FAQ

0.05%

Probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days EPSS Score History

~ 17 %

Percentile, the proportion of vulnerabilities that are scored at or less

Metasploit modules for CVE-2023-22809

Sudoedit Extra Arguments Priv Esc

Disclosure Date: 2023-01-18

First seen: 2023-09-11

exploit/linux/local/sudoedit_bypass_priv_esc

This exploit takes advantage of a vulnerability in sudoedit, part of the sudo package. The sudoedit (aka sudo -e) feature mishandles extra arguments passed in the user-provided environment variables (SUDO_EDITOR, VISUAL, and EDITOR), allowing a local attacker to

More information

CVSS scores for CVE-2023-22809

Base Score	Base Severity	CVSS Vector	Exploitability Score	Impact Score	Score Source	First Seen
7.8	HIGH	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H	1.8	5.9	NIST
Attack Vector: Local Attack Complexity: Low Privileges Required: Low User Interaction: None Scope: Unchanged Confidentiality: High Integrity: High Availability: High

CWE ids for CVE-2023-22809

CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management

The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.

Assigned by: nvd@nist.gov (Primary)

References for CVE-2023-22809

https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/01/msg00012.html

[SECURITY] [DLA 3272-1] sudo security update
Mailing List;Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-12

sudo: Root Privilege Escalation (GLSA 202305-12) — Gentoo security
Third Party Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230127-0015/

CVE-2023-22809 Sudo Vulnerability in NetApp Products | NetApp Product Security
Third Party Advisory
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213758

About the security content of macOS Ventura 13.4 - Apple Support
Third Party Advisory

CVEs referencing this url
https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5321

Debian -- Security Information -- DSA-5321-1 sudo
Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/01/19/1

oss-security - CVE-2023-22809: Sudoedit can edit arbitrary files
Exploit;Mailing List;Third Party Advisory
https://www.sudo.ws/security/advisories/sudoedit_any/

Sudoedit can edit arbitrary files | Sudo
Exploit;Mitigation;Vendor Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/G4YNBTTKTRT2ME3NTSXAPTOKYUE47XHZ/

[SECURITY] Fedora 36 Update: sudo-1.9.12-2.p2.fc36 - package-announce - Fedora Mailing-Lists
Mailing List
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174234/Cisco-ThousandEyes-Enterprise-Agent-Virtual-Appliance-Arbitrary-File-Modification.html

Cisco ThousandEyes Enterprise Agent Virtual Appliance Arbitrary File Modification ≈ Packet Storm
Third Party Advisory;VDB Entry
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171644/sudo-1.9.12p1-Privilege-Escalation.html

sudo 1.9.12p1 Privilege Escalation ≈ Packet Storm
Third Party Advisory;VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Aug/21

Full Disclosure: KL-001-2023-003: Cisco ThousandEyes Enterprise Agent Virtual Appliance Arbitrary File Modification via sudoedit
Mailing List;Third Party Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/G4YNBTTKTRT2ME3NTSXAPTOKYUE47XHZ/

[SECURITY] Fedora 36 Update: sudo-1.9.12-2.p2.fc36 - package-announce - Fedora Mailing-Lists
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2QDGFCGAV5QRJCE6IXRXIS4XJHS57DDH/

[SECURITY] Fedora 37 Update: sudo-1.9.12-1.p2.fc37 - package-announce - Fedora Mailing-Lists
Mailing List
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2QDGFCGAV5QRJCE6IXRXIS4XJHS57DDH/

[SECURITY] Fedora 37 Update: sudo-1.9.12-1.p2.fc37 - package-announce - Fedora Mailing-Lists
Mailing List;Third Party Advisory
https://www.synacktiv.com/sites/default/files/2023-01/sudo-CVE-2023-22809.pdf

Exploit;Mitigation;Technical Description;Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172509/Sudoedit-Extra-Arguments-Privilege-Escalation.html

Sudoedit Extra Arguments Privilege Escalation ≈ Packet Storm
Third Party Advisory;VDB Entry

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Vulnerability Details : CVE-2023-22809