The Register: Sudo-rs make me a sandwich, hold the buffer overflows

Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/08/ubuntu_2510_makes_rusk_sudo_default/
Source: The Register
Title: Sudo-rs make me a sandwich, hold the buffer overflows

Feedly Summary: Ubuntu 25.10 fitted with Rust-written admin tool by default for memory safety’s sake
Canonical’s Ubuntu 25.10 is set to make sudo-rs, a Rust-based rework of the classic sudo utility, the default – part of a push to cut memory-related security bugs and lock down core system components.…

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: Canonical’s upcoming Ubuntu 25.10 will feature a Rust-written administration tool, sudo-rs, as the default option to enhance memory safety and reduce security vulnerabilities related to memory issues. This move signifies a significant advancement in OS security, particularly within the realm of infrastructure security.

Detailed Description:

– Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, is working towards enhancing the operating system’s security with the introduction of sudo-rs, a reimagined version of the classic sudo utility, written in the Rust programming language.
– Rust’s strong memory safety guarantees are fundamental to this initiative, aiming to mitigate common security flaws associated with memory management, such as buffer overflows and use-after-free errors.
– The inclusion of sudo-rs as a default utility in Ubuntu 25.10 represents a proactive approach to system administration security, aiming to lock down core components of the operating system effectively.
– This development is of particular importance for professionals focused on:
– Infrastructure Security: Ensuring that foundational software components are robust against security vulnerabilities is critical.
– Software Security: Utilizing a programming language like Rust that emphasizes safety helps in building more secure software infrastructures.
– Compliance and Governance: As security issues related to software become more prominent, adopting methods to significantly reduce vulnerabilities aligns well with compliance and regulatory standards aimed at maintaining system integrity.

Overall, this strategic decision by Canonical to implement sudo-rs demonstrates an evolving landscape in the way operating systems are developed with security as a core feature, resulting in more resilient infrastructure solutions.