sudo

It’s a program that allows to execute commands as another user, often as root.

• sudo -k - reset the timer that doesn’t require password to use sudo
• sudo -v - disable password prompt for current session
• sudo -l - list sudo privileges
• sudo -lU username - list sudo privileges for other users

sudo is configured through /etc/sudoers. You should never edit it, use visudo instead!

Defaults requiretty - doesn’t allow to sudo from scripts

• How To Edit the Sudoers File
• 10 Useful Sudoers Configurations for Setting ‘sudo’ in Linux (logging, etc.)

• su