CVE-2019-18684: Race Condition

Published Nov 4, 2019
·
Updated

DISPUTED Sudo through 1.8.29 allows local users to escalate to root if they have write access to file descriptor 3 of the sudo process. This occurs because of a race condition between determining a uid, and the setresuid and openat system calls. The attacker can write "ALL ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL" to /proc/#####/fd/3 at a time when Sudo is prompting for a password. NOTE: This has been disputed due to the way Linux /proc works. It has been argued that writing to /proc/#####/fd/3 would only be viable if you had permission to write to /etc/sudoers. Even with write permission to /proc/#####/fd/3, it would not help you write to /etc/sudoers.

Affected Software

1 affected component
Sudo Project Sudo<=1.8.29

Event History

Nov 4, 2019
CVE Published
via MITRE·03:53 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·03:53 PM
Description
Disputed
04:15 PM

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the vulnerability ID for this vulnerability?

The vulnerability ID for this vulnerability is CVE-2019-18684.

2

What is the severity level of CVE-2019-18684?

The severity level of CVE-2019-18684 is high.

3

What is the affected software?

The affected software is Sudo Project Sudo version 1.8.29.

4

How can local users escalate to root using this vulnerability?

Local users can escalate to root by having write access to file descriptor 3 of the sudo process.

5

Is there a fix available for this vulnerability?

Please refer to the provided reference for information on any available fixes for CVE-2019-18684.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203