The 28-year-old Nigerian has been without a club following his release by West Brom in May.
Black Cats boss David Moyes has taken action after being left with just one senior striker, Jermain Defoe, on the books of the Wearside club.
With Fabio Borini facing up to three months on the sidelines with a groin injury and Steven Fletcher and Danny Graham having departed Sunderland in the summer, Moyes has moved for a player he knows well.
Anichebe was a youth-team player at Everton under Moyes and went on to make more than 130 appearances for the Goodison Park club, before joining West Brom.
Borini's misfortune has left Moyes with just one senior frontman, 33-year-old Defoe
However, youngsters Duncan Watmore and Joel Asoro, who is just 17, can also be called upon after Moyes' search for reinforcements during the transfer window ended in frustration
Sunderland's first game with Anichebe in their ranks is the Premier League match against his former club Everton at the Stadium of Light on September 12.
Source : PA
Source: PA