CVE-2009-0034

Name: CVE-2009-0034
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2009-01-30T19:30:00.28+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 7.8/10EPSS 0.41%

Last modified Jun 16, 2026

CVE-2009-0034 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 7.8/10 on the CVSS scale. parse.c in sudo 1.6.9p17 through 1.6.9p19 does not properly interpret a system group (aka %group) in the sudoers file during authorization decisions for a user who belongs to that group, which allows local users to leverage an applicable sudoers file and gain root privileges via a sudo command.. EPSS estimates a 0.41% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

parse.c in sudo 1.6.9p17 through 1.6.9p19 does not properly interpret a system group (aka %group) in the sudoers file during authorization decisions for a user who belongs to that group, which allows local users to leverage an applicable sudoers file and gain root privileges via a sudo command.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.8/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS Probability

0.41%

32.5th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-863

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions	Update
Gratisoft	Sudo	1.6.9	P17
Vmware	Esx	4.0	—

References

http://lists.vmware.com/pipermail/security-announce/2009/000060.htmlBroken Link
http://osvdb.org/51736Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/33753Not Applicable
http://secunia.com/advisories/33840Not Applicable
http://secunia.com/advisories/33885Not Applicable
http://secunia.com/advisories/35766Not Applicable
http://wiki.rpath.com/Advisories:rPSA-2009-0021Broken Link
http://www.gratisoft.us/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=327Product, Release Notes
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:033Broken Link
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-0267.htmlNot Applicable
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/500546/100/0/threadedBroken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/504849/100/0/threadedBroken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/33517Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021688Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.sudo.ws/cgi-bin/cvsweb/sudo/parse.c.diff?r1=1.160.2.21&r2=1.160.2.22&f=hBroken Link
http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0009.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1865Permissions Required
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=468923Issue Tracking, Permissions Required
https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-2954Broken Link
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10856Broken Link
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6462Broken Link
http://lists.vmware.com/pipermail/security-announce/2009/000060.htmlBroken Link
http://osvdb.org/51736Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/33753Not Applicable
http://secunia.com/advisories/33840Not Applicable
http://secunia.com/advisories/33885Not Applicable
http://secunia.com/advisories/35766Not Applicable
http://wiki.rpath.com/Advisories:rPSA-2009-0021Broken Link
http://www.gratisoft.us/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=327Product, Release Notes
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:033Broken Link
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-0267.htmlNot Applicable
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/500546/100/0/threadedBroken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/504849/100/0/threadedBroken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/33517Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021688Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.sudo.ws/cgi-bin/cvsweb/sudo/parse.c.diff?r1=1.160.2.21&r2=1.160.2.22&f=hBroken Link
http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0009.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1865Permissions Required
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=468923Issue Tracking, Permissions Required
https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-2954Broken Link
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10856Broken Link
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6462Broken Link

Timeline

Published: Jan 30, 2009
Last Modified: Jun 16, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2009-0034?

How severe is CVE-2009-0034?

CVE-2009-0034 has a CVSS score of 7.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.41% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2009-0034?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2009-0034?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST