sudoedit

Edit file as root

$ sudoedit [/etc/hosts]

$ SUDO_EDITOR=[vim] sudoedit [/etc/fstab]

$ sudoedit [/etc/file1] [/etc/file2]

$ sudoedit -u [username] [file]

sudoedit [-u user] [options] files

sudoedit safely edits files with elevated privileges. It's equivalent to sudo -e.
File is copied to temp location. User edits with their own editor.
After editing, changes copy back. Original file replaced atomically.
User's environment is preserved. Editor runs as the user, not root.
Safer than running editor as root. Limits privilege escalation risks.

-u, --user USER

Edit as user.

Edit with group.

Set HOME.

Non-interactive mode.

SUDO_EDITOR - Preferred editor
VISUAL - Visual editor
EDITOR - Default editor

Editor plugins run as user. Some editors may not work. Temp files briefly exist.

sudoedit is part of sudo, providing secure file editing. It prevents running arbitrary code with root privileges through editor extensions.

sudo(8), visudo(8), vi(1)