CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2025-32463Exploited in the wildNVD status: Analyzed

Sudo Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2025-32463 is a high-severity inclusion of functionality from untrusted control sphere vulnerability in Sudo from Sudo Project, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 1.9.17p1 as the first without the flaw, so updating Sudo to that release or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on September 29, 2025, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.

Patch now

Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.

What to do

  1. Update Sudo to 1.9.17p1 or a later version.
  2. CISA's required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
  3. Read the advisory on sudo.ws for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Sudo projectSudo1.9.14 up to, but not including, 1.9.17p11.9.17p1
CanonicalUbuntu Linux22.04; 24.04; 24.10; 25.04Not stated
DebianDebian Linux11.0; 12.0; 13.0Not stated
openSUSELeap15.6Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux10.0Not stated
SUSELinux Enterprise Desktop15Not stated
SUSELinux Enterprise Real Time15.0Not stated
SUSELinux Enterprise Server For SAP12Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.19.3CriticalCNA (mitre.org)
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD

Official description

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.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere

The product imports, requires, or includes executable functionality (such as a library) from a source that is outside of the intended control sphere.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
  • When the set of acceptable objects, such as filenames or URLs, is limited or known, create a mapping from a set of fixed input values (such as numeric IDs) to the actual filenames or URLs, and reject all other inputs. For example, ID 1 could map to inbox.txt and ID 2 could map to profile.txt. Features such as the ESAPI AccessReferenceMap provide this capability.
  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.

More Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere vulnerabilities (CWE-829)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
  4. Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
  5. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Patches and release notes

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in Sudo

All Sudo vulnerabilities

Recent Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere vulnerabilities

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