High
Security advisory
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.
- Products
- Not specified
- Affected versions
- Not specified
- Fixed versions
- Not specified
- CVEs
- CVE-2021-23240
- Confirmed fixed CVEs
- Not specified
- Updated in this feed
- 1 Nov 2026, 08:12 UTC · Revision 1
Source evidence
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.
osv:CVE-2021-23240
Complete source record
{
"id": "4d649e8c2fde029587ecb4aa1439b1e39e035739a92819831932052d7faa2076",
"url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-23240",
"method": "structured",
"payload": {
"kind": "advisory",
"title": "CVE-2021-23240",
"summary": "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.",
"evidence": "osv:CVE-2021-23240",
"products": [],
"severity": "high",
"structured": {
"id": "CVE-2021-23240",
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-23240"
],
"metrics": [
{
"type": "CVSS_V3",
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
}
],
"affected": [
{
"ranges": [
{
"repo": "https://github.com/millert/sudo",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "caa666c2dfa1f4286ccfbed5e512432665b72d3a"
},
{
"introduced": "83d1bee918147a57804de77d3e1064a4e323f47e"
},
{
"fixed": "10d072a320c885e2e805ef2e47fe7a2ebde68abc"
}
],
"database_specific": {
"extracted_events": [
{
"cpe": "cpe:2.3:a:sudo_project:sudo:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"range": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.8.32"
}
],
"source": "CPE_RANGE"
},
{
"cpe": "cpe:2.3:a:sudo_project:sudo:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"range": [
{
"introduced": "1.9.0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.9.5"
}
],
"source": "CPE_RANGE"
}
]
}
}
],
"versions": [
"SUDO_1_9_4p2",
"SUDO_1_9_4p1",
"SUDO_1_9_4",
"SUDO_1_9_3p1",
"SUDO_1_9_3",
"SUDO_1_9_2",
"SUDO_1_9_1",
"SUDO_1_8_31p2",
"SUDO_1_9_0",
"SUDO_1_8_31p1",
"SUDO_1_8_31",
"SUDO_1_8_30",
"SUDO_1_8_29",
"SUDO_1_8_28p1",
"SUDO_1_8_28",
"SUDO_1_8_27",
"SUDO_1_8_26",
"SUDO_1_8_25p1",
"SUDO_1_8_25",
"SUDO_1_8_24",
"SUDO_1_8_23",
"SUDO_1_8_22",
"SUDO_1_8_21p2",
"SUDO_1_8_21p1",
"SUDO_1_8_21",
"SUDO_1_8_20p2",
"SUDO_1_8_20p1",
"SUDO_1_8_20",
"SUDO_1_8_19p2",
"SUDO_1_8_19p1",
"SUDO_1_8_19",
"SUDO_1_8_18p1",
"SUDO_1_8_18",
"SUDO_1_8_17p1",
"SUDO_1_8_17",
"SUDO_1_8_16",
"SUDO_1_8_15",
"SUDO_1_8_14p3",
"SUDO_1_8_14p1",
"SUDO_1_8_14",
"SUDO_1_8_13",
"SUDO_1_8_12",
"SUDO_1_8_11p2",
"SUDO_1_8_11p1",
"SUDO_1_8_11",
"SUDO_1_8_10p3",
"SUDO_1_8_10p2",
"SUDO_1_8_10p1",
"SUDO_1_8_10",
"SUDO_1_8_9p5",
"SUDO_1_8_9p4",
"SUDO_1_8_9p3",
"SUDO_1_8_9p2",
"SUDO_1_8_9p1",
"SUDO_1_8_9",
"SUDO_1_8_8",
"SUDO_1_8_7",
"SUDO_1_8_6p8",
"SUDO_1_8_6p7",
"SUDO_1_8_6p6",
"SUDO_1_8_6p5",
"SUDO_1_8_6p4",
"SUDO_1_8_6p3",
"SUDO_1_8_6p2",
"SUDO_1_8_6p1",
"SUDO_1_8_6",
"SUDO_1_8_5p3",
"SUDO_1_8_5p2",
"SUDO_1_8_5p1",
"SUDO_1_8_5",
"SUDO_1_8_4p5",
"SUDO_1_8_4p4",
"SUDO_1_8_4p3",
"SUDO_1_8_4p2",
"SUDO_1_8_4p1",
"SUDO_1_8_4",
"SUDO_1_8_3",
"SUDO_1_8_2",
"SUDO_1_8_1",
"SUDO_1_8_0",
"SUDO_1_7_2",
"SUDO_1_7_1",
"SUDO_1_7_0",
"SUDO_1_6_8p1",
"SUDO_1_6_8",
"SUDO_1_6_7",
"SUDO_1_6_6",
"SUDO_1_6_5",
"SUDO_1_6_4",
"SUDO_1_6_3",
"SUDO_1_6_2",
"SUDO_1_6_1",
"SUDO_1_6_0",
"SUDO_1_5_9",
"SUDO_1_5_8",
"SUDO_1_5_7",
"SUDO_1_5_6",
"SUDO_1_5_4",
"SUDO_1_5_3",
"SUDO_1_5_2",
"SUDO_1_5_1",
"SUDO_1_5_0",
"SUDO_1_4_0",
"SUDO_1_3_1",
"SUDO_1_3_0"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/osv-output/CVE-2021-23240.json"
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"repo": "https://github.com/sudo-project/sudo",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "caa666c2dfa1f4286ccfbed5e512432665b72d3a"
},
{
"introduced": "83d1bee918147a57804de77d3e1064a4e323f47e"
},
{
"fixed": "10d072a320c885e2e805ef2e47fe7a2ebde68abc"
}
],
"database_specific": {
"extracted_events": [
{
"cpe": "cpe:2.3:a:sudo_project:sudo:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"range": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.8.32"
}
],
"source": "CPE_RANGE"
},
{
"cpe": "cpe:2.3:a:sudo_project:sudo:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"range": [
{
"introduced": "1.9.0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.9.5"
}
],
"source": "CPE_RANGE"
}
]
}
}
],
"versions": [
"v1.9.4p2",
"SUDO_1_9_4p2",
"v1.9.4p1",
"SUDO_1_9_4p1",
"v1.9.4",
"SUDO_1_9_4",
"v1.9.3p1",
"SUDO_1_9_3p1",
"v1.9.3",
"SUDO_1_9_3",
"v1.9.2",
"SUDO_1_9_2",
"v1.9.1",
"SUDO_1_9_1",
"v1.8.31p2",
"SUDO_1_8_31p2",
"v1.9.0",
"SUDO_1_9_0",
"v1.8.31p1",
"SUDO_1_8_31p1",
"v1.8.31",
"SUDO_1_8_31",
"v1.8.30",
"SUDO_1_8_30",
"v1.8.29",
"SUDO_1_8_29",
"v1.8.28p1",
"SUDO_1_8_28p1",
"v1.8.28",
"SUDO_1_8_28",
"v1.8.27",
"SUDO_1_8_27",
"v1.8.26",
"SUDO_1_8_26",
"v1.8.25p1",
"SUDO_1_8_25p1",
"v1.8.25",
"SUDO_1_8_25",
"v1.8.24",
"SUDO_1_8_24",
"v1.8.23",
"SUDO_1_8_23",
"v1.8.22",
"SUDO_1_8_22",
"v1.8.21p2",
"SUDO_1_8_21p2",
"v1.8.21p1",
"SUDO_1_8_21p1",
"v1.8.21",
"SUDO_1_8_21",
"v1.8.20p2",
"SUDO_1_8_20p2",
"v1.8.20p1",
"SUDO_1_8_20p1",
"v1.8.20",
"SUDO_1_8_20",
"v1.8.19p2",
"SUDO_1_8_19p2",
"v1.8.19p1",
"SUDO_1_8_19p1",
"v1.8.19",
"SUDO_1_8_19",
"v1.8.18p1",
"SUDO_1_8_18p1",
"v1.8.18",
"SUDO_1_8_18",
"v1.8.17p1",
"SUDO_1_8_17p1",
"v1.8.17",
"SUDO_1_8_17",
"v1.8.16",
"SUDO_1_8_16",
"v1.8.15",
"SUDO_1_8_15",
"v1.8.14p3",
"SUDO_1_8_14p3",
"v1.8.14p1",
"SUDO_1_8_14p1",
"v1.8.14",
"SUDO_1_8_14",
"v1.8.13",
"SUDO_1_8_13",
"v1.8.12",
"SUDO_1_8_12",
"v1.8.11p2",
"SUDO_1_8_11p2",
"v1.8.11p1",
"SUDO_1_8_11p1",
"v1.8.11",
"SUDO_1_8_11",
"v1.8.10p3",
"SUDO_1_8_10p3",
"v1.8.10p2",
"SUDO_1_8_10p2",
"v1.8.10p1",
"SUDO_1_8_10p1",
"v1.8.10",
"SUDO_1_8_10",
"v1.8.9p5",
"SUDO_1_8_9p5",
"v1.8.9p4",
"SUDO_1_8_9p4",
"v1.8.9p3",
"SUDO_1_8_9p3",
"v1.8.9p2",
"SUDO_1_8_9p2",
"v1.8.9p1",
"SUDO_1_8_9p1",
"v1.8.9",
"SUDO_1_8_9",
"v1.8.8",
"SUDO_1_8_8",
"v1.8.7",
"SUDO_1_8_7",
"v1.8.6p8",
"SUDO_1_8_6p8",
"v1.8.6p7",
"SUDO_1_8_6p7",
"v1.8.6p6",
"SUDO_1_8_6p6",
"v1.8.6p5",
"SUDO_1_8_6p5",
"v1.8.6p4",
"SUDO_1_8_6p4",
"v1.8.6p3",
"SUDO_1_8_6p3",
"v1.8.6p2",
"SUDO_1_8_6p2",
"v1.8.6p1",
"SUDO_1_8_6p1",
"v1.8.6",
"SUDO_1_8_6",
"v1.8.5p3",
"SUDO_1_8_5p3",
"v1.8.5p2",
"SUDO_1_8_5p2",
"v1.8.5p1",
"SUDO_1_8_5p1",
"v1.8.5",
"SUDO_1_8_5",
"v1.8.4p5",
"SUDO_1_8_4p5",
"v1.8.4p4",
"SUDO_1_8_4p4",
"v1.8.4p3",
"SUDO_1_8_4p3",
"v1.8.4p2",
"SUDO_1_8_4p2",
"v1.8.4p1",
"SUDO_1_8_4p1",
"v1.8.4",
"SUDO_1_8_4",
"v1.8.3",
"SUDO_1_8_3",
"v1.8.2",
"SUDO_1_8_2",
"v1.8.1",
"SUDO_1_8_1",
"v1.8.0",
"SUDO_1_8_0",
"v1.7.2",
"SUDO_1_7_2",
"v1.7.1",
"SUDO_1_7_1",
"v1.7.0",
"SUDO_1_7_0",
"v1.6.8p1",
"SUDO_1_6_8p1",
"v1.6.8",
"SUDO_1_6_8",
"v1.6.7",
"SUDO_1_6_7",
"v1.6.6",
"SUDO_1_6_6",
"v1.6.5",
"SUDO_1_6_5",
"v1.6.4",
"SUDO_1_6_4",
"v1.6.3",
"SUDO_1_6_3",
"v1.6.2",
"SUDO_1_6_2",
"v1.6.1",
"SUDO_1_6_1",
"v1.6.0",
"SUDO_1_6_0",
"v1.5.9",
"SUDO_1_5_9",
"v1.5.8",
"SUDO_1_5_8",
"v1.5.7",
"SUDO_1_5_7",
"v1.5.6",
"SUDO_1_5_6",
"v1.5.4",
"SUDO_1_5_4",
"v1.5.3",
"SUDO_1_5_3",
"v1.5.2",
"SUDO_1_5_2",
"v1.5.1",
"SUDO_1_5_1",
"v1.5.0",
"SUDO_1_5_0",
"v1.4.0",
"SUDO_1_4_0",
"v1.3.1",
"SUDO_1_3_1",
"v1.3.0",
"SUDO_1_3_0"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/osv-output/CVE-2021-23240.json"
}
}
],
"modified": "2026-10-24T10:31:04.316095072Z",
"provider": "osv",
"references": [
"https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r58af02e294bd07f487e2c64ffc0a29b837db5600e33b6e698b9d696b%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E",
"https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf4c02775860db415b4955778a131c2795223f61cb8c6a450893651e4%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E",
"https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/EE42Y35SMJOLONAIBNYNFC7J44UUZ2Y6/",
"https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GMY4VSSBIND7VAYSN6T7XIWJRWG4GBB3/",
"https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202101-33",
"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210129-0010/",
"https://www.sudo.ws/stable.html#1.9.5",
"https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2021-23240"
],
"provider_metadata": {
"unresolved_ranges": [
{
"cpes": [
"cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"
],
"vendor_product": "fedoraproject:fedora",
"extracted_events": [
{
"range": [
{
"introduced": "32"
},
{
"last_affected": "32"
},
{
"introduced": "33"
},
{
"last_affected": "33"
}
],
"source": "CPE_STRING"
}
]
}
]
}
},
"related_cves": [
{
"value": "CVE-2021-23240",
"evidence": "/id"
}
],
"security_relevant": true,
"severity_evidence": "/severity/0/score"
},
"source_id": "core-osv",
"document_id": 440484,
"published_at": "2021-01-12T09:15:14.107+00:00"
}