Summary
Users with no (or very limited) sudo privileges can determine whether files exists in folders that they otherwise cannot access using sudo --list <pathname>.
PoC
As root:
# mkdir /tmp/foo
# chmod a-rwx /tmp/foo
# touch /tmp/foo/secret_file
As a user without any (or limited) sudo rights:
$ sudo --list /tmp/foo/nonexistent_file
sudo-rs: '/tmp/foo/nonexistent_file': command not found
$ $ sudo --list /tmp/foo/secret_file
sudo-rs: Sorry, user eve may not run sudo on host.
I.e. the user can distinguish whether files exist.
Related
Original sudo (vulnerable version tested by us: 1.9.15p5) exhibited similar behaviour for files with the executable bit set.
Credits
This issue was identified by sudo-rs developer Marc Schoolderman
Impact
Users with local access to a machine can discover the existence/non-existence of certain files, revealing potentially sensitive information in the file names. This information can also be used in conjunction with other attacks.
CVE-2025-46717 has a CVSS score of 3.3 (Low). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. A fixed version is available (0.2.6); upgrading removes the vulnerable code path.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Remediation advice
Kodem Kai can prioritize this vulnerability in your dependency tree and generate a fix recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2025-46717? CVE-2025-46717 is a low-severity security vulnerability in sudo-rs (rust), affecting versions <= 0.2.5. It is fixed in 0.2.6.
- How severe is CVE-2025-46717? CVE-2025-46717 has a CVSS score of 3.3 (Low). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Which versions of sudo-rs are affected by CVE-2025-46717? sudo-rs (rust) versions <= 0.2.5 is affected.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2025-46717? Yes. CVE-2025-46717 is fixed in 0.2.6. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is CVE-2025-46717 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2025-46717 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2025-46717 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix CVE-2025-46717? Upgrade
sudo-rsto 0.2.6 or later.