CVE-2021-23240
7.8 · HIGHOverview
CVE-2021-23240 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting sudo_project sudo. It was published on January 12, 2021 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
Technical Description
selinux_edit_copy_tfiles in sudoedit in Sudo before 1.9.5 allows a local unprivileged user to gain file ownership and escalate privileges by replacing a temporary file with a symlink to an arbitrary file target. This affects SELinux RBAC support in permissive mode. Machines without SELinux are not vulnerable.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from sudo_project. Update sudo to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| sudo_project | sudo | >= 0, < 1.8.32 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2021-23240?
CVE-2021-23240 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting sudo_project sudo. It was published on January 12, 2021 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).
How severe is CVE-2021-23240?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2021-23240?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from sudo_project. Update sudo to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2021-23240?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2021-23240 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
Automated penetration testing that runs continuously, not just quarterly.
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