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Manual: cvtsudoers.ws

CVTSUDOERS(1) General Commands Manual CVTSUDOERS(1)

NAME
cvtsudoers — convert between sudoers file formats

SYNOPSIS
cvtsudoers [-ehMpV] [-b dn] [-c conf_file] [-d deftypes] [-f output_format] [-i input_format] [-I increment]
[-l log_file] [-m filter] [-o output_file] [-O start_point] [-P padding] [-s sections] [input_file ...]

DESCRIPTION
The cvtsudoers utility accepts one or more security policies in either sudoers or LDIF format as input, and generates
a single policy of the specified format as output. The default input format is sudoers. The default output format
is LDIF. It is only possible to convert a policy file that is syntactically correct.

If no input_file is specified, or if it is ‘-’, the policy is read from the standard input. Input files may be op‐
tionally prefixed with a host name followed by a colon (‘:’) to make the policy rules specific to a host when merging
multiple files. By default, the result is written to the standard output.

The options are as follows:

-b dn, --base=dn
The base DN (distinguished name) that will be used when performing LDAP queries. Typically this is of the
form “ou=SUDOers,dc=my-domain,dc=com” for the domain my-domain.com. If this option is not specified, the
value of the SUDOERS_BASE environment variable will be used instead. Only necessary when converting to LDIF
format.

-c conf_file, --config=conf_file
Specify the path to the configuration file. Defaults to /etc/cvtsudoers.conf.

-d deftypes, --defaults=deftypes
Only convert Defaults entries of the specified types. One or more Defaults types may be specified, separated
by a comma (‘,’). The supported types are:

all All Defaults entries.

global Global Defaults entries that are applied regardless of user, runas, host, or command.

user Per-user Defaults entries.

runas Per-runas user Defaults entries.

host Per-host Defaults entries.

command Per-command Defaults entries.

See the Defaults section in sudoers(5) for more information.

If the -d option is not specified, all Defaults entries will be converted.

-e, --expand-aliases
Expand aliases in input_file. Aliases are preserved by default when the output format is JSON or sudoers.

-f output_format, --output-format=output_format
Specify the output format (case-insensitive). The following formats are supported:

CSV CSV (comma-separated value) files are often used by spreadsheets and report generators. See “CSV
output format” for more details.

JSON JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) files are usually easier for third-party applications to consume
than the traditional sudoers format. The various values have explicit types which removes much of
the ambiguity of the sudoers format. See “JSON output format” for more details.

LDIF LDIF (LDAP Data Interchange Format) files can be imported into an LDAP server for use with
sudoers.ldap(5).

Conversion to LDIF has the following limitations:

• Command, host, runas, and user-specific Defaults lines cannot be translated as they don't have an
equivalent in the sudoers LDAP schema.

• Command, host, runas, and user aliases are not supported by the sudoers LDAP schema so they are
expanded during the conversion.

sudoers Traditional sudoers format. A new sudoers file will be reconstructed from the parsed input file.
Comments are not preserved and data from any include files will be output inline.

--group-file=file
When the -M option is also specified, perform group queries using file instead of the system group database.

-h, --help
Display a short help message to the standard output and exit.

-i input_format, --input-format=input_format
Specify the input format. The following formats are supported:

LDIF LDIF (LDAP Data Interchange Format) files can be exported from an LDAP server to convert security
policies used by sudoers.ldap(5). If a base DN (distinguished name) is specified, only sudoRole ob‐
jects that match the base DN will be processed. Not all sudoOptions specified in a sudoRole can be
translated from LDIF to sudoers format.

sudoers Traditional sudoers format. This is the default input format.

-I increment, --increment=increment
When generating LDIF output, increment each sudoOrder attribute by the specified number. Defaults to an in‐
crement of 1.

-l log_file, --logfile=log_file
Log conversion warnings to log_file instead of to the standard error. This is particularly useful when merg‐
ing multiple sudoers files, which can generate a large number of warnings.

-m filter, --match=filter
Only output rules that match the specified filter. A filter expression is made up of one or more key = value
pairs, separated by a comma (‘,’). The key may be “cmnd” (or “cmd”), “host”, “group”, or “user”. For exam‐
ple, user = operator or host = www. An upper-case Cmnd_Alias, Host_alias, or User_Alias may be specified as
the “cmnd”, “host”, or “user”.

A matching sudoers rule may also include users, groups, and hosts that are not part of the filter. This can
happen when a rule includes multiple users, groups, or hosts. To prune out any non-matching user, group, or
host from the rules, the -p option may be used.

By default, the password and group databases are not consulted when matching against the filter so the users
and groups do not need to be present on the local system (see the -M option). Only aliases that are refer‐
enced by the filtered policy rules will be displayed.

-M, --match-local
When the -m option is also specified, use password and group database information when matching users and
groups in the filter. Only users and groups in the filter that exist on the local system will match, and a
user's groups will automatically be added to the filter. If the -M is not specified, users and groups in the
filter do not need to exist on the local system, but all groups used for matching must be explicitly listed
in the filter.

-o output_file, --output=output_file
Write the converted output to output_file. If no output_file is specified, or if it is ‘-’, the converted
sudoers policy will be written to the standard output.

-O start_point, --order-start=start_point
When generating LDIF output, use the number specified by start_point in the sudoOrder attribute of the first
sudoRole object. Subsequent sudoRole object use a sudoOrder value generated by adding an increment, see the
-I option for details. Defaults to a starting point of 1. A starting point of 0 will disable the generation
of sudoOrder attributes in the resulting LDIF file.

--passwd-file=file
When the -M option is also specified, perform passwd queries using file instead of the system passwd data‐
base.

-p, --prune-matches
When the -m option is also specified, cvtsudoers will prune out non-matching users, groups, and hosts from
matching entries.

-P padding, --padding=padding
When generating LDIF output, construct the initial sudoOrder value by concatenating order_start and
increment, padding the increment with zeros until it consists of padding digits. For example, if order_start
is 1027, padding is 3, and increment is 1, the value of sudoOrder for the first entry will be 1027000, fol‐
lowed by 1027001, 1027002, etc. If the number of sudoRole entries is larger than the padding would allow,
cvtsudoers will exit with an error. By default, no padding is performed.

-s sections, --suppress=sections
Suppress the output of specific sections of the security policy. One or more section names may be specified,
separated by a comma (‘,’). The supported section name are: defaults, aliases and privileges (which may be
shortened to privs).

-V, --version
Print the cvtsudoers and sudoers grammar versions and exit.

Merging multiple files
When multiple input files are specified, cvtsudoers will attempt to merge them into a single policy file. It is as‐
sumed that user and group names are consistent among the policy files to be merged. For example, user “bob” on one
host is the same as user “bob” on another host.

When merging policy files, it is possible to prefix the input file name with a host name, separated by a colon (‘:’).
When the files are merged, the host name will be used to restrict the policy rules to that specific host where possi‐
ble.

The merging process is performed as follows:

• Each input file is parsed into internal sudoers data structures.

• Aliases are merged and renamed as necessary to avoid conflicts. In the event of a conflict, the first alias found
is left as-is and subsequent aliases of the same name are renamed with a numeric suffix separated with a under‐
score (‘_’). For example, if there are two different aliases named SERVERS, the first will be left as-is and the
second will be renamed SERVERS_1. References to the renamed alias are also updated in the policy file. Duplicate
aliases (those with identical contents) are pruned.

• Defaults settings are merged and duplicates are removed. If there are conflicts in the Defaults settings, a warn‐
ing is emitted for each conflict. If a host name is specified with the input file, cvtsudoers will change the
global Defaults settings in that file to be host-specific. A warning is emitted for command, user, or runas-spe‐
cific Defaults settings which cannot be made host-specific.

• Per-user rules are merged and duplicates are removed. If a host name is specified with the input file, cvtsudoers
will change rules that specify a host name of ALL to the host name associated with the policy file being merged.
The merging of rules is currently fairly simplistic but will be improved in a later release.

It is possible to merge policy files with differing formats.

The cvtsudoers.conf file
Options in the form “keyword = value” may also be specified in a configuration file, /etc/cvtsudoers.conf by default.
The following keywords are recognized:

defaults = deftypes
See the description of the -d command line option.

expand_aliases = yes | no
See the description of the -e command line option.

group_file = file
See the description of the --group-file command line option.

input_format = ldif | sudoers
See the description of the -i command line option.

match = filter
See the description of the -m command line option.

match_local = yes | no
See the description of the -M command line option.

order_increment = increment
See the description of the -I command line option.

order_start = start_point
See the description of the -O command line option.

output_format = csv | json | ldif | sudoers
See the description of the -f command line option.

padding = padding
See the description of the -P command line option.

passwd_file = file
See the description of the --passwd-file command line option.

prune_matches = yes | no
See the description of the -p command line option.

sudoers_base = dn
See the description of the -b command line option.

suppress = sections
See the description of the -s command line option.

Options on the command line will override values from the configuration file.

JSON output format
The sudoers JSON format may contain any of the following top-level objects:

Defaults
An array of objects, each containing an Options array and an optional Binding array.

The Options array consists of one or more objects, each containing a “name:value” pair that corresponds to a
sudoers Defaults setting. Options that operate on a list will also include an operation entry in the object,
with a value of “list_assign” for ‘=’, “list_add” for ‘+=’, or “list_remove” for ‘-=’.

The optional Binding array consists of one or more objects, each containing a “name:value” pair and an optional
negated entry, which will negate any comparison performed with the object. If a Binding is present, the set‐
ting will only take effect if one of the specified command, hostname, netgroup, networkaddr, nonunixgid,
nonunixgroup, usergid, usergroup, userid, username, or alias entries match.

For example, the following sudoers entry:

Defaults@somehost set_home, env_keep += DISPLAY

converts to:

"Defaults": [
{
"Binding": [
{ "hostname": "somehost" }
],
"Options": [
{ "set_home": true },
{
"operation": "list_add",
"env_keep": [
"DISPLAY"
]
}
]
}
]

User_Aliases
A JSON object containing one or more sudoers User_Alias entries where each named alias has as its value an ar‐
ray containing one or more objects. Each object contains a “name:value” pair and an optional negated entry,
which will negate any comparison performed with the object. The name may be one of netgroup, nonunixgid,
nonunixgroup, useralias, usergid, usergroup, userid, or username.

For example, the following sudoers entry:

User_Alias SYSADMIN = will, %wheel, +admin

converts to:

"User_Aliases": {
"SYSADMIN": [
{ "username": "will" },
{ "usergroup": "wheel" },
{ "netgroup": "admin" }
]
}

Runas_Aliases
A JSON object containing one or more sudoers Runas_Alias entries, where each named alias has as its value an
array containing one or more objects. Each object contains a “name:value” pair and an optional negated entry,
which will negate any comparison performed with the object. The name may be one of netgroup, nonunixgid,
nonunixgroup, runasalias, usergid, usergroup, userid, or username.

For example, the following sudoers entry:

Runas_Alias DB = oracle, sybase : OP = root, operator

converts to:

"Runas_Aliases": {
"DB": [
{ "username": "oracle" },
{ "username": "sybase" }
],
"OP": [
{ "username": "root" },
{ "username": "operator" }
]
}

Host_Aliases
A JSON object containing one or more sudoers Host_Alias entries where each named alias has as its value an ar‐
ray containing one or more objects. Each object contains a “name:value” pair and an optional negated entry,
which will negate any comparison performed with the object. The name may be one of hostalias, hostname,
netgroup, or networkaddr.

For example, the following sudoers entries:

Host_Alias DORMNET = 128.138.243.0, 128.138.204.0/24
Host_Alias SERVERS = boulder, refuge

convert to:

"Host_Aliases": {
"DORMNET": [
{ "networkaddr": "128.138.243.0" },
{ "networkaddr": "128.138.204.0/24" }
],
"SERVERS": [
{ "hostname": "boulder" },
{ "hostname": "refuge" }
]
}

Cmnd_Aliases
A JSON object containing one or more sudoers Cmnd_Alias entries where each named alias has as its value an ar‐
ray containing one or more objects. Each object contains a “name:value” pair and an optional negated entry,
which will negate any comparison performed with the object. The name may be either another cmndalias or a
command. For example, the following sudoers entries:

Cmnd_Alias SHELLS = /bin/bash, /bin/csh, /bin/sh, /bin/zsh
Cmnd_Alias VIPW = /usr/bin/chpass, /usr/bin/chfn, /usr/bin/chsh, \
/usr/bin/passwd, /usr/sbin/vigr, /usr/sbin/vipw

convert to:

"Cmnd_Aliases": {
"SHELLS": [
{ "command": "/bin/bash" },
{ "command": "/bin/csh" },
{ "command": "/bin/sh" },
{ "command": "/bin/zsh" }
],
"VIPW": [
{ "command": "/usr/bin/chpass" },
{ "command": "/usr/bin/chfn" },
{ "command": "/usr/bin/chsh" },
{ "command": "/usr/bin/passwd" },
{ "command": "/usr/sbin/vigr" },
{ "command": "/usr/sbin/vipw" }
]
}

User_Specs
A JSON array containing one or more objects, each representing a sudoers User_Spec. Each object in the
User_Specs array should contain a User_List array, a Host_List array and a Cmnd_Specs array.

A User_List consists of one or more objects. Each object contains a “name:value” pair and an optional negated
entry, which will negate any comparison performed with the object. The name may be one of netgroup,
nonunixgid, nonunixgroup, useralias, usergid, usergroup, userid, or username. If username is set to the spe‐
cial value ALL, it will match any user.

A Host_List consists of one or more objects. Each object contains a “name:value” pair and an optional negated
entry, which will negate any comparison performed with the object. The name may be one of hostalias, hostname,
netgroup, or networkaddr. If hostname is set to the special value ALL, it will match any host.

The Cmnd_Specs array consists of one or more JSON objects describing a command that may be run. Each
Cmnd_Specs is made up of a Commands array, an optional runasusers array, an optional runasgroups array, and an
optional Options array.

The Commands array consists of one or more objects containing “name:value” pair elements. The following names
and values are supported:

command A string containing the command to run. The special value ALL it will match any command.

negated A boolean value that, if true, will negate any comparison performed with the object.

sha224 One or more SHA224 digests for the command in string form. Multiple digests of the same type are
stored as an array.

sha256 One or more SHA256 digests for the command in string form. Multiple digests of the same type are
stored as an array.

sha384 One or more SHA384 digests for the command in string form. Multiple digests of the same type are
stored as an array.

sha512 One or more SHA512 digests for the command in string form. Multiple digests of the same type are
stored as an array.

The runasusers array consists of objects describing users the command may be run as. Each object contains a
“name:value” pair and an optional negated entry, which will negate any comparison performed with the object.
The name may be one of netgroup, nonunixgid, nonunixgroup, runasalias, usergid, usergroup, userid, or username.
If username is set to the special value ALL, it will match any user. If username is set to the empty string
“”, it will match the invoking user.

The runasgroups array consists of objects describing groups the command may be run as. Each object contains a
“name:value” pair and an optional negated entry, which will negate any comparison performed with the object.
The name may be one of runasalias, usergid, or usergroup. If usergroup is set to the special value ALL, it
will match any group.

The Options array is of the same format as the one in the Defaults object. Any Tag_Spec entries in sudoers are
converted to Options. A user with “sudo ALL” privileges will automatically have the setenv option enabled to
match the implicit behavior provided by sudoers.

For example, the following sudoers entry:

millert ALL = (ALL : ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL, !/usr/bin/id

converts to:

"User_Specs": [
{
"User_List": [
{ "username": "millert" }
],
"Host_List": [
{ "hostname": "ALL" }
],
"Cmnd_Specs": [
{
"runasusers": [
{ "username": "ALL" }
],
"runasgroups": [
{ "usergroup": "ALL" }
],
"Options": [
{ "authenticate": false },
{ "setenv": true }
],
"Commands": [
{ "command": "ALL" },
{
"command": "/usr/bin/id",
"negated": true
}
]
}
]
}
]

CSV output format
CSV (comma-separated value) files are often used by spreadsheets and report generators. For CSV output, cvtsudoers
double quotes strings that contain commas. For each literal double quote character present inside the string, two
double quotes are output. This method of quoting commas is compatible with most spreadsheet programs.

There are three possible sections in cvtsudoers's CSV output, each separated by a blank line:

defaults
This section includes any Defaults settings in sudoers. The defaults section begins with the following head‐
ing:

defaults_type,binding,name,operator,value

The fields are as follows:

defaults_type
The type of Defaults setting; one of defaults, defaults_command, defaults_host, defaults_runas, or
defaults_user.

binding
For defaults_command, defaults_host, defaults_runas, and defaults_user this is the value that must match
for the setting to be applied.

name The name of the Defaults setting.

operator
The operator determines how the value is applied to the setting. It may be either ‘=’ (assignment), ‘+=’
(append), or ‘-=’ (remove).

value
The setting's value, usually a string or, for settings used in a boolean context, true or false.

aliases
This section includes any Cmnd_Alias Host_Alias, Runas_Alias, or User_Alias, entries from sudoers. The aliases
section begins with the following heading:

alias_type,alias_name,members

The fields are as follows:

alias_type
The type of alias; one of Cmnd_Alias, Host_Alias, Runas_Alias, or User_Alias.

alias_name
The name of the alias; a string starting with an upper-case letter that consists of upper-case letters,
digits, or underscores.

members
A comma-separated list of members belonging to the alias. Due to the use of commas, members is sur‐
rounded by double quotes if it contains more than one member.

rules
This section includes the sudoers rules that grant privileges. The rules section begins with the following
heading:

rule,user,host,runusers,rungroups,options,command

The fields are as follows:

rule This field indicates a sudoers rule entry.

user The user the rule applies to. This may also be a Unix group (preceded by a ‘%’ character), a non-Unix
group (preceded by ‘%:’) or a netgroup (preceded by a ‘+’ character) or a User_Alias. If set to the spe‐
cial value ALL, it will match any user.

host The host the rule applies to. This may also be a netgroup (preceded by a ‘+’ character) or a Host_Alias.
If set to the special value ALL, it will match any host.

runusers
An optional comma-separated list of users (or Runas_Aliases) the command may be run as. If it contains
more than one member, the value is surrounded by double quotes. If set to the special value ALL, it will
match any user. If empty, the root user is assumed.

rungroups
An optional comma-separated list of groups (or Runas_Aliases) the command may be run as. If it contains
more than one member, the value is surrounded by double quotes. If set to the special value ALL, it will
match any group. If empty, the runuser's group is used.

options
An optional list of Defaults settings to apply to the command. Any Tag_Spec entries in sudoers are con‐
verted to options.

commands
A list of commands, with optional arguments, that the user is allowed to run. If set to the special
value ALL, it will match any command.

For example, the following sudoers entry:

millert ALL = (ALL : ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL, !/usr/bin/id

converts to:

rule,millert,ALL,ALL,ALL,"!authenticate","ALL,!/usr/bin/id"

FILES
/etc/cvtsudoers.conf default configuration for cvtsudoers

EXAMPLES
Convert /etc/sudoers to LDIF (LDAP Data Interchange Format) where the ldap.conf file uses a sudoers_base of my-do‐
main,dc=com, storing the result in sudoers.ldif:

$ cvtsudoers -b ou=SUDOers,dc=my-domain,dc=com -o sudoers.ldif \
/etc/sudoers

Convert /etc/sudoers to JSON format, storing the result in sudoers.json:

$ cvtsudoers -f json -o sudoers.json /etc/sudoers

Parse /etc/sudoers and display only rules that match user ambrose on host hastur:

$ cvtsudoers -f sudoers -m user=ambrose,host=hastur /etc/sudoers

Same as above, but expand aliases and prune out any non-matching users and hosts from the expanded entries.

$ cvtsudoers -ep -f sudoers -m user=ambrose,host=hastur /etc/sudoers

Convert sudoers.ldif from LDIF to traditional sudoers format:

$ cvtsudoers -i ldif -f sudoers -o sudoers.new sudoers.ldif

Merge a global sudoers file with two host-specific policy files from the hosts “xyzzy” and “plugh”:

$ cvtsudoers -f sudoers -o sudoers.merged sudoers \
xyzzy:sudoers.xyzzy plugh:sudoers.plugh

SEE ALSO
sudoers(5), sudoers.ldap(5), sudo(8)

AUTHORS
Many people have worked on sudo over the years; this version consists of code written primarily by:

Todd C. Miller

See the CONTRIBUTORS.md file in the sudo distribution (https://www.sudo.ws/about/contributors/) for an exhaustive
list of people who have contributed to sudo.

BUGS
If you believe you have found a bug in cvtsudoers, you can either file a bug report in the sudo bug database,
https://bugzilla.sudo.ws/, or open an issue at https://github.com/sudo-project/sudo/issues. If you would prefer to
use email, messages may be sent to the sudo-workers mailing list, https://www.sudo.ws/mailman/listinfo/sudo-workers
(public) or (private).

Please do not report security vulnerabilities through public GitHub issues, Bugzilla or mailing lists. Instead, re‐
port them via email to . You may encrypt your message with PGP if you would like, using the key
found at https://www.sudo.ws/dist/PGPKEYS.

SUPPORT
Limited free support is available via the sudo-users mailing list, see https://www.sudo.ws/mailman/listinfo/sudo-
users to subscribe or search the archives.

DISCLAIMER
cvtsudoers is provided “AS IS” and any express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, the implied war‐
ranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are disclaimed. See the LICENSE.md file distributed
with sudo or https://www.sudo.ws/about/license/ for complete details.

Sudo 1.9.17p2 February 22, 2025 CVTSUDOERS(1)

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