# CVE-2021-23239: libnss-sudo: The sudoedit personality of Sudo before 1.9.5 may allow a localunprivileged user to perform arbitrary directory-exist...

CVE-2021-23239 is fixed in 3 products on 1 platform, first by sudo 1.8.21p2-3ubuntu1.4, released January 26, 2021. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-23239
- Priority: Routine
- CVSS: 2.5 (Low)
- EPSS: 0.0104
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Jan 12, 2021

## Description

The sudoedit personality of Sudo before 1.9.5 may allow a localunprivileged user to perform arbitrary directory-existence tests by winninga sudo_edit.c race condition in replacing a user-controlled directory by asymlink to an arbitrary path.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | libnss-sudo Ubuntu 24.10 (oracular) | 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2 | [libnss-sudo 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-oracular-libnss-sudo-1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2.md) | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Linux | libnss-sudo Ubuntu 25.04 (plucky) | 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2 | [libnss-sudo 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-plucky-libnss-sudo-1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2.md) | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Linux | sudo RHEL 8 | 0:1.8.29-7.el8 | [RHSA-2021:1723](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/rhsa-2021-1723.md) | May 18, 2021 |
| Linux | sudo Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 1.8.21p2-3ubuntu1.4 | [sudo 1.8.21p2-3ubuntu1.4](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-sudo-1.8.21p2-3ubuntu1.4.md) | Jan 26, 2021 |
| Linux | sudo Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 1.8.31-1ubuntu1.2 | [sudo 1.8.31-1ubuntu1.2](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-sudo-1.8.31-1ubuntu1.2.md) | Jan 26, 2021 |
| Linux | sudo Ubuntu 24.10 (oracular) | 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2 | [sudo 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-oracular-sudo-1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2.md) | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Linux | sudo Ubuntu 25.04 (plucky) | 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2 | [sudo 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-plucky-sudo-1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2.md) | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Linux | sudo ol 8 | 0:1.8.29-7.el8 | [ELSA-2021-1723](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2021-1723.md) | May 25, 2021 |
| Linux | sudo-ldap Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 1.8.21p2-3ubuntu1.4 | [sudo-ldap 1.8.21p2-3ubuntu1.4](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-sudo-ldap-1.8.21p2-3ubuntu1.4.md) | Jan 26, 2021 |
| Linux | sudo-ldap Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 1.8.31-1ubuntu1.2 | [sudo-ldap 1.8.31-1ubuntu1.2](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-sudo-ldap-1.8.31-1ubuntu1.2.md) | Jan 26, 2021 |
| Linux | sudo-ldap Ubuntu 24.10 (oracular) | 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2 | [sudo-ldap 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-oracular-sudo-ldap-1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2.md) | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Linux | sudo-ldap Ubuntu 25.04 (plucky) | 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2 | [sudo-ldap 1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-plucky-sudo-ldap-1.9.4p2-2ubuntu2.md) | Jan 16, 2026 |

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Data as of 2026-11-08T06:59:42Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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