CVE-2026-96512
Sudo: sudo: tz environment variable allows bypass of notbefore/notafter time-based authorization
- Published
- Sep 23, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 24, 2026
- Assigning CNA
- redhat
- Evidence observed
- Sep 26, 2026
Primary CVSS
nvd · CVSS 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
A flaw was found in sudo. When sudoers rules use NOTBEFORE or NOTAFTER time-based access restrictions with timestamps that omit the trailing 'Z' timezone indicator, the time evaluation relies on the TZ environment variable inherited from the calling user. Because sudo is a setuid-root program, an unprivileged local user can set TZ to an extreme timezone offset to shift the authorization window by up to approximately 25 hours, causing expired rules to be treated as valid. This allows the user to execute commands outside the intended time window. Authentication is not bypassed; only the time-based authorization check is affected.
Sources
Disclosure pack and PoC for CVE-2026-96512, a sudo NOTBEFORE/NOTAFTER TZ time-window bypass enabling local privilege escalation, with lab reproduction and patch guidance.
Reproduction and PoC scripts for CVE-2026-96512 (SudoTimeWarp), where the caller's TZ shifts sudoers NOTBEFORE/NOTAFTER windows, plus mitigation checks.
Responsible use
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