N.Y. Real Property Actions & Proceedings Law § 1313

§ 1313. Permissible defendants. Any person who is liable to the\nplaintiff for payment of the debt secured by the mortgage may be made a\ndefendant in the action. The state may be made a party defendant to an\naction for the foreclosure of a mortgage on real property, where it has\nan interest in or a lien on the property subsequent to the lien of the\nmortgage sought to be foreclosed in said action, in the same manner as a\nprivate person.\n