CVE-2023-7090 : What You Need to Know

This CVE record was published by Red Hat and relates to a vulnerability in sudo that can lead to privilege mismanagement due to improper handling of ipa_hostname.

Understanding CVE-2023-7090

This vulnerability in sudo arises from the mishandling of ipa_hostname, which results in privilege mismanagement issues within applications where client hosts retain privileges even after revoking them.

What is CVE-2023-7090?

CVE-2023-7090 is a moderate-severity vulnerability found in sudo due to the mishandling of ipa_hostname, specifically where ipa_hostname from /etc/sssd/sssd.conf is not correctly processed by sudo. This can result in privilege mismanagement vulnerabilities within affected applications.

The Impact of CVE-2023-7090

The impact of this vulnerability is classified as medium severity, with a CVSS base score of 6.6. The exploitation of this vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to retain privileges on client hosts even after those privileges have been revoked.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-7090

This section covers specific technical details regarding the vulnerability, including the description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in sudo originates from the improper handling of ipa_hostname, failing to propagate ipa_hostname from /etc/sssd/sssd.conf into sudo, resulting in privilege mismanagement vulnerabilities within applications.

Affected Systems and Versions

The versions affected by CVE-2023-7090 include various Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions (6, 7, 8, and 9) as well as Fedora. Notably, version 1.8.28 of sudo is affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability in sudo can be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate privileges within applications, allowing them to retain access and capabilities even after those privileges have been revoked.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate steps to address and mitigate the CVE-2023-7090 vulnerability is crucial to safeguard systems and data from potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should update the affected sudo versions to patched releases provided by the vendor.
Implement proper privilege management protocols to mitigate the risk of privilege mismanagement.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update system components to address known vulnerabilities promptly.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and remediate potential privilege management issues.

Patching and Updates

Red Hat has released patches to address the vulnerability in affected versions of sudo. Organizations are advised to apply these patches promptly to secure their systems against exploitation.