CVE-2025-32462
Published: 30 June 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-32462 is a low-severity Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863) vulnerability in Sudo Project Sudo. Its CVSS base score is 2.8 (Low).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 3.2% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis
Sudo before version 1.9.17p1 is affected by an authorization flaw when a sudoers file restricts commands to a host that is neither the current machine nor the ALL wildcard. The issue is tracked as CVE-2025-32462 with a CVSS score of 2.8 and is classified under CWE-863, allowing listed users to bypass intended host-based command restrictions.
A local user who is explicitly permitted to run commands on another host can invoke those commands on the current system instead, because the host check is not enforced correctly in the affected versions. Exploitation requires local access and a crafted sudoers entry but does not need additional user interaction.
Multiple vendor advisories, including those from Red Hat, Debian, Gentoo, and Amazon Linux, reference the CVE and point to updated packages that correct the host-matching logic. Administrators are expected to upgrade to 1.9.17p1 or later and review existing sudoers files for host-specific entries.
The EPSS score reached a peak of 0.3345 after disclosure before settling at 0.3001, indicating measurable post-release interest in the issue despite its low base severity.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-20867
Vulnerability details
Sudo before 1.9.17p1, when used with a sudoers file that specifies a host that is neither the current host nor ALL, allows listed users to execute commands on unintended machines.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
CVE-2025-32462 enables local privilege escalation by allowing users to bypass sudoers host restrictions using the -h option, facilitating execution of elevated commands on unintended hosts.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Periodic review and update of procedures reduces incorrect authorization implementations over time.
Supervision identifies cases where authorization logic incorrectly permits unauthorized actions.
Defining permitted attribute values and auditing modifications reduces the chance of incorrect authorization outcomes due to tampered or missing labels.
The authorization process and usage restrictions help prevent incorrect authorization for remote access types.
Establishing configuration and connection requirements helps ensure correct rather than incorrect authorization for wireless access.
Establishing connection authorization processes for mobile devices helps ensure authorization decisions are correctly implemented rather than incorrect.
Monitoring account use, notifying on changes, and reviewing accounts for compliance corrects incorrect authorization assignments.
Ensures authorization decisions for external system use are correctly implemented and enforced.