How to Fix "unable to stat /etc/sudoers" Error When Using sudo

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How to Fix unable to stat etcsudoers Error When Using sudo
How to Fix unable to stat etcsudoers Error When Using sudo768×1344 65 KB

One of the more alarming errors you may encounter on a Linux system is:

sudo: unable to stat /etc/sudoers: No such file or directory
sudo: no valid sudoers sources found, quitting
sudo: unable to initialize policy plugin

This issue effectively locks you out of administrative (sudo) privileges and can cause panic — but don’t worry. This guide will walk you through the causes, implications, and solutions for this error.

What Does This Error Mean?

The file /etc/sudoers defines which users can run commands with sudo privileges. If sudo can’t read this file, it doesn’t know who is allowed to execute administrative commands. As a safety feature, it then denies all sudo access.

The message:

  • “unable to stat” means the file doesn’t exist or can’t be accessed.
  • “no valid sudoers sources found” means there are no fallback configurations.
  • “unable to initialize policy plugin” confirms that sudo can’t proceed.

Common Causes

  1. Accidental deletion or renaming of /etc/sudoers.
  2. Corruption of the file due to a misconfigured edit.
  3. Wrong permissions or ownership on the sudoers file.
  4. Filesystem issues (e.g., disk errors or a read-only root filesystem).

How to Fix the Error

Since you can’t use sudo, you’ll need root access without sudo. There are a few ways to achieve this:

Option 1: Use the Root Account (If Enabled)

If the root account is enabled:

  1. Switch to the root user:
su -
  1. Enter the root password.
  2. Recreate or fix the /etc/sudoers file (see below for steps).

Many systems like Ubuntu have the root account disabled by default. If su doesn’t work, try the recovery options below.

Option 2: Boot into Recovery Mode

  1. Reboot the machine.
  2. At the GRUB menu, select Advanced Options > (recovery mode).
  3. Choose root from the recovery menu to open a root shell.
  4. Remount the filesystem in read-write mode:
mount -o remount,rw /
  1. Fix the sudoers file as shown below.

Option 3: Use a Live CD/USB

If the above doesn’t work:

  1. Boot from a live Linux USB/DVD.
  2. Open a terminal and mount your system partition:
sudo fdisk -l               # Identify your Linux partition (e.g., /dev/sda1)
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
sudo chroot /mnt            # Enter the system environment
  1. Now, you have root access and can fix /etc/sudoers.

Fixing the /etc/sudoers File

Once you have root access, follow these steps:

Step 1: Restore or Recreate the File

If the file is missing, recreate it with safe defaults:

echo 'Defaults    env_reset
Defaults    mail_badpass
Defaults    secure_path="/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin"

root    ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL' > /etc/sudoers

Alternatively, copy from a similar system or backup:

cp /etc/sudoers.bak /etc/sudoers

Step 2: Set Correct Permissions

The /etc/sudoers file must have the correct permissions:

chmod 440 /etc/sudoers
chown root:root /etc/sudoers

Step 3: Use visudo to Validate

visudo checks the syntax before saving to avoid misconfigurations.

visudo

This opens the sudoers file in a safe editor. If it opens successfully, save and exit. If you manually edited the file earlier, use visudo -c to check:

visudo -c

If everything is OK, you should see:

/etc/sudoers: parsed OK

Reboot and Test

After fixing, reboot:

reboot

Now test:

sudo whoami

It should return:

root

Preventive Tips

  • Always use visudo to edit the sudoers file.
  • Keep a backup of a working sudoers file:
cp /etc/sudoers /etc/sudoers.bak
  • Be cautious with permissions — 440 and owned by root:root is non-negotiable.
  • Consider enabling the root account temporarily if you’re experimenting with sudoers:
sudo passwd root

Conclusion

The “unable to stat /etc/sudoers” error can seem fatal, but with recovery access and a little care, you can restore full administrative functionality. Whether by restoring the file or fixing permissions, the key is careful access and verification using visudo.

If you’re managing critical systems, consider automating regular backups of your configuration files — it can save a lot of trouble down the line.