sudo: Privilege escalation

Background

sudo allows a system administrator to give users the ability to run commands as other users. Access to commands may also be granted on a range to hosts.

Description

When the Sudo env_reset option is disabled (it is enabled by default), certain environment variables are not blacklisted as expected.

Impact

A local attacker, authorized to run commands using sudo, can use this flaw to execute arbitrary code or escalate his privileges.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All sudo users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-admin/sudo-1.8.5"