# Ensure sudo Is Installed

- Source: https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000235533-ensure-sudo-is-installed
- Section: [Solutions](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions) › [CIS Amazon Linux 2 Benchmark v3.0.0](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/62000112696) › [CIS Amazon Linux 2 Benchmarks](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/folders/62000169265)
- Last updated: 2026-05-29
- Publisher: iCompaas, Inc. (https://www.icompaas.com)

Profile Applicability: • **Level 1**

Description:  
 The sudo package allows users to execute commands with elevated privileges in a controlled manner. Ensuring that sudo is installed is fundamental for secure privilege management and auditing.

Rationale:  
 Installing sudo enables administrators to delegate specific privileges securely without sharing the root password, improving accountability and system security.

Impact:  
 Pros:

-   Facilitates secure and auditable privilege escalation.  
      
    
-   Supports principle of least privilege.  
      
    

Cons:

-   Misconfiguration may lead to unauthorized privilege use.  
      
    

Default Value:  
 sudo may not be installed by default on minimal or custom Linux installations.

Pre-requisites:

-   Root or sudo privileges to install software packages.  
      
    

Remediation:

### Test Plan:

Using Linux command line:

1.  Check if sudo is installed:
    

On RPM-based systems:  

rpm -q sudo

On Debian-based systems:  

dpkg -l | grep sudo

2.  Confirm package installation status.
    

### Implementation Plan:

Using Linux command line:

1.  Install sudo if missing:
    

On RPM-based systems:

yum install sudo -y

On Debian-based systems:

apt-get install sudo -y

Verify installation:

sudo -V

### Backout Plan:

Using Linux command line:

1.  Remove sudo if necessary:
    

On RPM-based systems:

yum remove sudo -y

On Debian-based systems:

apt-get remove sudo -y

2.  Confirm removal.
    

References:

-   [https://aws.amazon.com/amazon-linux-2/release-notes/](https://aws.amazon.com/amazon-linux-2/release-notes/)
    
-   [https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-53/rev-5/final](https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-53/rev-5/final)
    
-   [https://www.cisecurity.org/benchmark/amazon\_linux/](https://www.cisecurity.org/benchmark/amazon_linux/)

## Related compliance guidance

- [SOC 2 compliance: a practical implementation guide for cloud-native SaaS teams](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/soc-2-trust-services-criteria): Configuration checks like this one are the technical half of a SOC 2 / ISO 27001 programme — the guide shows where they fit, what else an auditor expects, and how to evidence them.
- [ISO/IEC 27001:2022 compliance: a practical implementation guide](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/iso-27001-2022): ISO 27001 Annex A.8 (technological controls) is where cloud hardening evidence lands; the guide shows how to run the ISMS around it.