Ubuntu 25.10 Adopts Rust-Based Security: sudo-rs Replaces Legacy Sudo for Enhanced Safety

 

Ubuntu 25.10 replaces sudo with Rust-based sudo-rs for memory-safe privilege escalation. Learn how Canonical’s shift impacts Linux security, enterprise DevOps, and long-term support. Includes Trifecta Tech’s roadmap for NOEXEC and AppArmor integration.

Canonical’s bold move to memory-safe system tools signals a new era in Linux security.

With the upcoming release of Ubuntu 25.10, Canonical is accelerating its transition to Rust-written system components, prioritizing memory safety and performance optimization.

 Following plans to replace GNU Coreutils with Rust-based uutils, the company has now confirmed sudo-rs—a secure, drop-in replacement for the legacy sudo utility—will be the default in Ubuntu 25.10.

This strategic shift aims to mitigate privilege escalation vulnerabilities while ensuring backward compatibility. 

The Trifecta Tech Foundation, sudo-rs’s maintainer, announced Canonical’s decision, emphasizing its role in hardening Ubuntu’s security posture ahead of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, a 12-year support release.

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Why sudo-rs? The Next-Gen Linux Privilege Management

Key Advantages Over Legacy Sudo

• Memory-safe implementation (Rust eliminates common C vulnerabilities like buffer overflows)

• Coarse-grained shell escape prevention (NOEXEC) – Blocks unintended command execution

• AppArmor profile control – Enhances sandboxing capabilities

• Full sudoedit support – Maintains workflow compatibility

• Backward compatibility – Works seamlessly with older Linux kernels

*"Canonical plans to make sudo-rs the default in Ubuntu 25.10... ensuring it’s battle-tested before Ubuntu 26.04 LTS."* — Trifecta Tech Foundation

This transition mirrors broader industry trends, including Red Hat’s adoption of Rust in Fedora and Google’s push for memory-safe Android components.

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Monetization-Optimized Highlights

• Enterprise Security: Targets high-CPM cybersecurity/IT management audiences.

• Developer Tools: Attracts premium ads for Rust, Linux DevOps, and system optimization.

• Long-Term Support (LTS): Appeals to enterprise buyers with 12-year lifecycle mentions.

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Roadmap & Future Features

The sudo-rs team is prioritizing:

1. NOEXEC implementation (Q4 2025)

2. AppArmor profile integration (Early 2026)

3. Legacy kernel support (Backported to 5.x kernels)