The flaw behind the 2021 warning was CVE-2021-3156, also called Baron Samedit: a heap-based buffer overflow in sudo that could let an unprivileged person with local access gain root privileges. Upstream sudo 1.9.5p2 fixed it, but Linux distributions may backport security fixes without changing the visible version number. Check your distribution’s security advisory or package status—not just the version printed by sudo—to confirm whether your system received the fix.
What was the sudo flaw?
Qualys disclosed CVE-2021-3156 on January 26, 2021, in coordination with sudo’s author and operating-system distributions. The vulnerable code had been present since July 2011. Qualys described the issue as a heap-based buffer overflow in sudo and named it Baron Samedit. The team wrote that “The vulnerability itself has been hiding in plain sight for nearly 10 years.” Qualys’ technical write-up explains the discovery and impact.
What could an attacker do?
Qualys reported that a local, unprivileged user could exploit the flaw to obtain root privileges under the default configuration it described. This was a local privilege-escalation vulnerability, not a claim that an attacker could gain access remotely over a network. Qualys said it verified exploit variants on Ubuntu 20.04 with sudo 1.8.31, Debian 10 with sudo 1.8.27, and Fedora 33 with sudo 1.9.2. Those are the tested examples reported by Qualys, not a count of affected machines or a claim that every installation of those releases was vulnerable.
Which upstream sudo versions were affected?
Qualys listed these affected upstream ranges in the default configuration:
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| Upstream sudo branch | Affected versions listed by Qualys |
|---|---|
| Legacy | 1.8.2 through 1.8.31p2 |
| Stable | 1.9.0 through 1.9.5p1 |
CISA’s February 2, 2021 alert recommended updating to upstream sudo 1.9.5p2 and told users and administrators to consult vendors for available patches. See the CISA alert for that historical guidance. The upstream ranges and version recommendation do not establish the fixed package number for every Linux distribution and release.
How to check and update your Linux system
- Identify the distribution and release. The relevant security package depends on which operating system and release you run.
- Check the distribution’s security advisory or package status for CVE-2021-3156. Confirm that the vendor has issued a fix for your release and whether it is installed. Do not decide based only on the upstream version string.
- Install the vendor-provided security update. Use the distribution’s normal update process and follow its advisory if additional steps are specified.
- Verify package status using the vendor’s instructions. Confirm that the installed package is the fixed build identified by the vendor advisory for your specific release.
Version strings can be misleading because distributions sometimes backport a security fix into an older-looking package. Qualys noted that Ubuntu’s patched package for Ubuntu 20.04 still displayed sudo 1.8.31. That is why the vendor’s package record or advisory—not a comparison with upstream 1.9.5p2—is the useful check.
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What this 2021 warning does—and does not—tell you today
The Qualys write-up and CISA alert establish the vulnerability’s historical upstream ranges, impact, and original patch guidance. They do not provide a current inventory of every supported Linux release or prove whether a particular machine has since been updated. If you administer several systems, assess each operating-system release against its vendor’s advisory and installed package status. There is no single universal fixed build established by these sources.
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