Linux Sudo Chroot Execution

Status: experimental
Severity: low
Log source: category process_creation, product linux
Author: Swachchhanda Shrawn Poudel (Nextron Systems)
Source: github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects the execution of 'sudo' command with '--chroot' option, which is used to change the root directory for command execution. Attackers may use this technique to evade detection and execute commands in a modified environment. This can be part of a privilege escalation strategy, as it allows the execution of commands with elevated privileges in a controlled environment as seen in CVE-2025-32463. While investigating, look out for unusual or unexpected use of 'sudo --chroot' in conjunction with other commands or scripts such as execution from temporary directories or unusual user accounts.

Known false positives

Legitimate administrative tasks or scripts that use 'sudo --chroot' for containerization, testing, or system management.

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

Tactic	Techniques
Privilege Escalation	`T1068` Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Telemetry coverage

Platform	Record / event type
Linux	Event ID 1: Process Create

Rule body

title: Linux Sudo Chroot Execution
id: f2bed782-994e-4f40-9cd5-518198cb3fba
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects the execution of 'sudo' command with '--chroot' option, which is used to change the root directory for command execution.
    Attackers may use this technique to evade detection and execute commands in a modified environment.
    This can be part of a privilege escalation strategy, as it allows the execution of commands with elevated privileges in a controlled environment as seen in CVE-2025-32463.
    While investigating, look out for unusual or unexpected use of 'sudo --chroot' in conjunction with other commands or scripts such as execution from temporary directories or unusual user accounts.
references:
    - https://github.com/kh4sh3i/CVE-2025-32463/blob/81bb430f84fa2089224733c3ed4bfa434c197ad4/exploit.sh
author: Swachchhanda Shrawn Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-10-02
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.t1068
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: linux
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '/sudo'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' --chroot '
            - 'sudo -R '
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate administrative tasks or scripts that use 'sudo --chroot' for containerization, testing, or system management.
level: low

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: `condition`

selection

Stage 1: `selection`

selection:
    Image|endswith: '/sudo'
    CommandLine|contains:
        - ' --chroot '
        - 'sudo -R '

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Field	Kind	Values	Search
`CommandLine`	match	`--chroot` `sudo -R`	`field:"CommandLine" kind:match`
`Image`	ends_with	`/sudo`	`field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"/sudo"`