Zero Day, Zero Warning: Inside the Discovery That Could Have Crippled the Internet

Twelve years. That's how long a vulnerability sat in sudo—the command powering every Linux system—waiting for the wrong hands. When Stratascale researchers Rich Mirch and Quentin Rhoads-Herrera discovered not one, but two zero-day vulnerabilities in sudo, millions of systems worldwide were at risk. 

Go behind the scenes of a discovery that could have changed everything—but didn't, thanks to ethical research and responsible disclosure. Learn how a 12-year-old vulnerability went undetected in one of the world's most scrutinized open-source projects, why human curiosity still outpaces automated security tools, and the methodology behind discovering critical flaws in mature, battle-tested software.

Guests: Rich Mirch, Principal Security Researcher, Stratascale; Quentin Rhoads-Herrera, VP of Security Services, Stratascale

Stratascale is a wholly owned subsidiary of SHI International, delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity research and managed security services.

Show Notes & Resources

Read our blog announcing the vulnerabilities: https://www.stratascale.com/vulnerability-alert-CVE-2025-32462-sudo-host

CVE Details: • CVE-2025-32462 - The 12-year sudo vulnerability • CVE-2025-32463 - The more severe chroot vulnerability

Key Timestamps: • [02:07] - Rich's discovery approach: assuming vulnerabilities exist • [08:03] - Quinton's validation process and initial disbelief • [13:31] - The "double take" moment of confirming the discovery • [21:21] - Dynamic vs. static testing methodology • [29:03] - Why offensive security research matters • [34:44] - Career advice for aspiring cybersecurity professionals

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