CVE-2025-32463: Sudo Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere Vulnerability

Should you act?

Exploited: patch now if you run it

CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

• Yes, if you run Sudo Sudo. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-09-29, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2025-10-20; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
• EPSS 55.5%, percentile 99: FIRST’s model estimates a 55.5% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
• Needs local access needed. Lower urgency for most teams unless an attacker could already run code on the machine.
• Editorial verdict: Check exposure. sudo --chroot Local Root Escalation (CVE-2025-32463) — Distros patched this in mid-2025 and it is now known-exploited; any multi-user or shared Linux host still on sudo 1.9.14-1.9.17 without the vendor fix hands root to every local account.

What it is

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.

CISA’s summary

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.

Weakness type: CWE-829.

Product: Sudo Sudo · Assigned by: mitre · Published: 2025-06-30

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: local access needed
• Attack complexity: low
• Privileges required: none (no login)
• User interaction: none
• Scope: changed (can affect other components)

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

• CISA KEV: added 2025-09-29; federal due date 2025-10-20. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
• 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.
• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 55.50% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.

Timeline

• 2025-06-30 — CVE record published by mitre
• 2025-06-30 — erroneo.us brief: sudo --chroot Local Root Escalation (CVE-2025-32463)
• 2025-09-29 — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
• 2025-10-20 — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies
• 2026-02-26 — CVE record last updated

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vendor and project advisories, patches

1. Listed in CISA KEV notes (sudo.ws) sudo.ws

Vulnerability records

1. CVE.org record CVE-2025-32463 cve.org
2. NVD entry CVE-2025-32463 nvd.nist.gov

Government

1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry cisa.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

1. sudo.ws sudo.ws
2. sudo.ws sudo.ws
3. stratascale.com stratascale.com
4. openwall.com openwall.com
5. access.redhat.com access.redhat.com
6. ubuntu.com ubuntu.com
7. security-tracker.debian.org security-tracker.debian.org
8. explore.alas.aws.amazon.com explore.alas.aws.amazon.com
9. bugs.gentoo.org bugs.gentoo.org
10. suse.com suse.com
11. suse.com suse.com
12. secpod.com secpod.com
13. vicarius.io vicarius.io
14. vicarius.io vicarius.io
15. iototsecnews.jp iototsecnews.jp

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