lib/inspec/cli.rb in inspec-1.22.0 vs lib/inspec/cli.rb in inspec-1.23.0

@@ -153,9 +153,16 @@
   def exec(*targets)
     diagnose
     configure_logger(opts)
     o = opts.dup
 
+    # print error if user passed --sudo but with no --target
+    if opts[:sudo] && opts[:target].nil?
+      Inspec::Log.error('--sudo is only valid when running against a remote host using --target')
+      Inspec::Log.error('To run InSpec locally with elevated privileges, run `sudo inspec exec ...`')
+      exit 1
+    end
+
     # run tests
     run_tests(targets, o)
   rescue StandardError => e
     pretty_handle_exception(e)
   end