VISUDO(1m) System Manager's Manual VISUDO(1m)
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vviissuuddoo - edit the sudoers file
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vviissuuddoo [--cchhqqssVV] [--ff _s_u_d_o_e_r_s]
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vviissuuddoo edits the _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file in a safe fashion, analogous to vipw(1m).
vviissuuddoo locks the _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file against multiple simultaneous edits,
provides basic sanity checks, and checks for parse errors. If the
_s_u_d_o_e_r_s file is currently being edited you will receive a message to try
again later.
There is a hard-coded list of one or more editors that vviissuuddoo will use
set at compile-time that may be overridden via the _e_d_i_t_o_r _s_u_d_o_e_r_s Default
variable. This list defaults to vi. Normally, vviissuuddoo does not honor the
VISUAL or EDITOR environment variables unless they contain an editor in
the aforementioned editors list. However, if vviissuuddoo is configured with
the --with-env-editor option or the _e_n_v___e_d_i_t_o_r Default variable is set in
_s_u_d_o_e_r_s, vviissuuddoo will use any the editor defines by VISUAL or EDITOR.
Note that this can be a security hole since it allows the user to execute
any program they wish simply by setting VISUAL or EDITOR.
vviissuuddoo parses the _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file after the edit and will not save the
changes if there is a syntax error. Upon finding an error, vviissuuddoo will
print a message stating the line number(s) where the error occurred and
the user will receive the ``What now?'' prompt. At this point the user
may enter `e' to re-edit the _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file, `x' to exit without saving the
changes, or `Q' to quit and save changes. The `Q' option should be used
with extreme care because if vviissuuddoo believes there to be a parse error,
so will ssuuddoo and no one will be able to ssuuddoo again until the error is
fixed. If `e' is typed to edit the _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file after a parse error has
been detected, the cursor will be placed on the line where the error
occurred (if the editor supports this feature).
The options are as follows:
--cc Enable _c_h_e_c_k_-_o_n_l_y mode. The existing _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file will be
checked for syntax errors, owner and mode. A message will be
printed to the standard output describing the status of
_s_u_d_o_e_r_s unless the --qq option was specified. If the check
completes successfully, vviissuuddoo will exit with a value of 0.
If an error is encountered, vviissuuddoo will exit with a value of
1.
--ff _s_u_d_o_e_r_s Specify and alternate _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file location. With this
option vviissuuddoo will edit (or check) the _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file of your
choice, instead of the default, _/_e_t_c_/_s_u_d_o_e_r_s. The lock file
used is the specified _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file with ``.tmp'' appended to
it. In _c_h_e_c_k_-_o_n_l_y mode only, the argument to --ff may be `-',
indicating that _s_u_d_o_e_r_s will be read from the standard input.
--hh The --hh (_h_e_l_p) option causes vviissuuddoo to print a short help
message to the standard output and exit.
--qq Enable _q_u_i_e_t mode. In this mode details about syntax errors
are not printed. This option is only useful when combined
with the --cc option.
--ss Enable _s_t_r_i_c_t checking of the _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file. If an alias is
used before it is defined, vviissuuddoo will consider this a parse
error. Note that it is not possible to differentiate between
an alias and a host name or user name that consists solely of
uppercase letters, digits, and the underscore (`_')
character.
--VV The --VV (_v_e_r_s_i_o_n) option causes vviissuuddoo to print its version
number and exit.
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The following environment variables may be consulted depending on the
value of the _e_d_i_t_o_r and _e_n_v___e_d_i_t_o_r _s_u_d_o_e_r_s settings:
VISUAL Invoked by vviissuuddoo as the editor to use
EDITOR Used by vviissuuddoo if VISUAL is not set
FFIILLEESS
_/_e_t_c_/_s_u_d_o_e_r_s List of who can run what
_/_e_t_c_/_s_u_d_o_e_r_s_._t_m_p Lock file for visudo
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sudoers file busy, try again later.
Someone else is currently editing the _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file.
/etc/sudoers.tmp: Permission denied
You didn't run vviissuuddoo as root.
Can't find you in the passwd database
Your user ID does not appear in the system passwd file.
Warning: {User,Runas,Host,Cmnd}_Alias referenced but not defined
Either you are trying to use an undeclared
{User,Runas,Host,Cmnd}_Alias or you have a user or host name listed
that consists solely of uppercase letters, digits, and the
underscore (`_') character. In the latter case, you can ignore the
warnings (ssuuddoo will not complain). In --ss (strict) mode these are
errors, not warnings.
Warning: unused {User,Runas,Host,Cmnd}_Alias
The specified {User,Runas,Host,Cmnd}_Alias was defined but never
used. You may wish to comment out or remove the unused alias. In
--ss (strict) mode this is an error, not a warning.
Warning: cycle in {User,Runas,Host,Cmnd}_Alias
The specified {User,Runas,Host,Cmnd}_Alias includes a reference to
itself, either directly or through an alias it includes. This is
only a warning by default as ssuuddoo will ignore cycles when parsing
the _s_u_d_o_e_r_s file.
SSEEEE AALLSSOO
vi(1), sudoers(4), sudo(1m), vipw(1m)
AAUUTTHHOORRSS
Many people have worked on ssuuddoo over the years; this version consists of
code written primarily by:
Todd C. Miller
See the CONTRIBUTORS file in the ssuuddoo distribution
(http://www.sudo.ws/sudo/contributors.html) for an exhaustive list of
people who have contributed to ssuuddoo.
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There is no easy way to prevent a user from gaining a root shell if the
editor used by vviissuuddoo allows shell escapes.
BBUUGGSS
If you feel you have found a bug in vviissuuddoo, please submit a bug report at
http://www.sudo.ws/sudo/bugs/
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Limited free support is available via the sudo-users mailing list, see
http://www.sudo.ws/mailman/listinfo/sudo-users to subscribe or search the
archives.
DDIISSCCLLAAIIMMEERR
vviissuuddoo is provided ``AS IS'' and any express or implied warranties,
including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability
and fitness for a particular purpose are disclaimed. See the LICENSE
file distributed with ssuuddoo or http://www.sudo.ws/sudo/license.html for
complete details.
Sudo 1.7.10 July 12, 2012 Sudo 1.7.10