1. Ubuntu Security Notices
  2. USN-722-1

USN-722-1: sudo vulnerability

Publication date

17 February 2009

Overview

sudo vulnerability

Releases

Packages

Details

Harald Koenig discovered that sudo did not correctly handle certain
privilege changes when handling groups. If a local attacker belonged
to a group included in a “RunAs” list in the /etc/sudoers file, that
user could gain root privileges. This was not an issue for the default
sudoers file shipped with Ubuntu.

Harald Koenig discovered that sudo did not correctly handle certain
privilege changes when handling groups. If a local attacker belonged
to a group included in a “RunAs” list in the /etc/sudoers file, that
user could gain root privileges. This was not an issue for the default
sudoers file shipped with Ubuntu.

Update instructions

In general, a standard system upgrade is sufficient to effect the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
8.10 intrepid sudo –  1.6.9p17-1ubuntu2.1
8.04 hardy sudo –  1.6.9p10-1ubuntu3.4

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References

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