---
id: "CVE-2025-32463"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2025-32463"]
title: "Sudo before 1.9.17p1 allows local users to obtain root access because /etc/nsswitch.conf from a user-controlled\u2026"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.3
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: [{"name": "Sudo Sudo", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "sudo project sudo", "fixed": ["1.9.17"], "affected": ">= 1.9.14, < 1.9.17", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "sudo project sudo", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 1.9.17", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "canonical ubuntu linux", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 22.04", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "canonical ubuntu linux", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 24.04", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "canonical ubuntu linux", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 24.10", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "canonical ubuntu linux", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 25.04", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "debian linux", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 11.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "debian linux", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 12.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "debian linux", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 13.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "opensuse leap", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 15.6", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "redhat enterprise linux", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 10.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "suse linux enterprise desktop", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 15", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "suse linux enterprise real time", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 15.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "suse linux enterprise server for sap", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 12", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "linux", "package", "self-hosted", "sudo"]
not_affected_if: ["no-local-users", "sudo-not-installed"]
published_at: "2025-06-30T21:15:30+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T23:44:51+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2025-32463", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-32463", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T23:44:51+00:00"}]
---

# Sudo before 1.9.17p1 allows local users to obtain root access because /etc/nsswitch.conf from a user-controlled…

Sudo's -R (--chroot) option can be abused by a local user to run arbitrary commands as root, even without a sudoers entry. The attacker gets full root on the machine.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Sudo Sudo affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:sudo project sudo affected >= 1.9.14, < 1.9.17 fixed 1.9.17
- vendor:sudo project sudo affected = 1.9.17 fixed ?
- vendor:canonical ubuntu linux affected = 22.04 fixed ?
- vendor:canonical ubuntu linux affected = 24.04 fixed ?
- vendor:canonical ubuntu linux affected = 24.10 fixed ?
- vendor:canonical ubuntu linux affected = 25.04 fixed ?
- vendor:debian linux affected = 11.0 fixed ?
- vendor:debian linux affected = 12.0 fixed ?
- vendor:debian linux affected = 13.0 fixed ?
- vendor:opensuse leap affected = 15.6 fixed ?
- vendor:redhat enterprise linux affected = 10.0 fixed ?
- vendor:suse linux enterprise desktop affected = 15 fixed ?
- vendor:suse linux enterprise real time affected = 15.0 fixed ?
- vendor:suse linux enterprise server for sap affected = 12 fixed ?

## How to check

Run sudo -V and compare the version to the fixed release in the vendor advisory. Confirm the sudo binary is the one distributed by the OS package manager.

## Fix

Upgrade sudo to a patched version from the vendor or your OS distribution. If no patch is available, follow CISA mitigation guidance or stop using sudo's -R option.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2025-32463
- 2026-10-23T23:44:51+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-32463

## From the sources

Sudo contains an inclusion of functionality from untrusted control sphere vulnerability. This vulnerability could allow local attacker to leverage sudo’s -R (--chroot) option to run arbitrary commands as root, even if they are not listed in the sudoers file.

CISA 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.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_