CVE-2012-3440: A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite a

Routine

MEDIUM 5.6WATCHLISTMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2012-3440 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.6) affecting sudo, enterprise linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /var/tmp/nsswitch.conf.bak temporary file.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.6 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 62%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-59
Published	2012-08-08
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: redhat · todd miller

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2012-08-08 10:26 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:43 UTCUpdated Record last modified

todd miller sudo MITIGATE

Affected: 1.7.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy sudo || rpm -q sudo || sudo --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

Downgrade not recommended

This is a core system component: downgrading can break the OS. Apply the distro update or the vendor mitigation.

redhat enterprise linux MITIGATE

Affected: 5

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2012-3440?

sudo: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; enterprise linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2012-3440 being exploited?

CVE-2012-3440 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2012-3440 affect?

CVE-2012-3440 affects sudo, enterprise linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.6). A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /var/tmp/nsswitch.conf.bak temporary file.

How urgent is CVE-2012-3440?

Priority 39/100. Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Red Hat Enterprise Linux vulnerabilities · Sudo vulnerabilities

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References

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