sudo before 1.8.12 does not ensure that the TZ environment variable is associated with a…
Priority LOW 17CWE-200Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · None · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 16 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-200.
Summary
sudo before 1.8.12 does not ensure that the TZ environment variable is associated with a zoneinfo file, which allows local users to open arbitrary files for read access (but not view file contents) by running a program within an sudo session, as demonstrated by interfering with terminal output, discarding kernel-log messages, or repositioning tape drives.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00474 41st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 16 fixed, 2 without a fix
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:sudo_project:sudo:*:p2:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 1.8.11 | Vulnerable | Sudo project |
- cpe:2.3:a:sudo_project:sudo:*:p2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 1.8.11 Vulnerable ·Sudo project
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2015:1409 Released 2015-07-20 · Red Hat rating Moderatesudo security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) sudo-1.8.6p3-19.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) sudo-devel-1.8.6p3-19.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) sudo-1.8.6p3-19.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) sudo-devel-1.8.6p3-19.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) sudo-1.8.6p3-19.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) sudo-devel-1.8.6p3-19.el6, sudo-devel-1.8.6p3-19.el6.ppc
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) sudo-1.8.6p3-19.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) sudo-devel-1.8.6p3-19.el6
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1409 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1409 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1409 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1409 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1409 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1409 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1409 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1409 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | — |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2014-9680
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xgww-w8fw-rw7h
References
More Sudo project Sudo vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-23530 Sudo before 1.9.17p1 allows local users to obtain root access because /etc/nsswitch.conf… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2021-02242 Sudo before 1.9.5p2 contains an off-by-one error that can result in a heap-based buffer… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2019-10640 In Sudo before 1.8.28, an attacker with access to a Runas ALL sudoer account can bypass… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-08978 In Sudo before 1.9.12p2, the sudoedit (aka -e) feature mishandles extra arguments passed… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2019-13477 In Sudo before 1.8.26, if pwfeedback is enabled in /etc/sudoers, users can trigger a… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2025-23529 Incorrect authorization in Sudo CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2014-9680 · CVE Program
- CVE-2014-9680 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xgww-w8fw-rw7h · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2014-9680 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences