CVE-2026-123158
sshd in OpenSSH before 10.6p2 on Linux, when musl libc is used without PAM, lacks a workaround for a password authentication bypass (related to misinterpretation of whether a string is intended to be a password hash). For some configurations of accounts, any password between 256 and 1024 characters succeeds. An example of a platform using musl libc without PAM is Alpine Linux.
Executive briefing
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Evidence confidence: Not assessed Evidence-derived, not an exploitability verdict
Severity & attack characteristics
CVSS vector:CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Technical explanation & impact
Technical root-cause details are not available in the current source record.
Assess the impact using the published CVSS metrics and the affected vendor component.
Affected products and versions
NVD has not supplied machine-readable vulnerable CPE product/version entries for this CVE. This is an information gap, not proof that no products are affected. Check the vendor advisory references below.
Remediation & validation
- Identify exposure by comparing the affected product and version ranges with your asset inventory, SBOM and externally exposed services.
- Review the linked vendor security advisory or patch notes. Upgrade to a vendor-confirmed fixed release; do not infer a fixed version from the CVE description.
- Until patched, consider restricting network access or disabling the affected feature where operationally safe. These are temporary controls, not a substitute for a vendor fix.
- Validate the remediation with a version check and vulnerability rescan, then retain change evidence.
No fixed version is displayed unless it is explicitly established by a vendor advisory. Follow the vendor's release notes for exact product and branch applicability.
Vendor advisories, patches & exploit references
- https://github.com/leonjza/sshhole-lab VENDOR cve@mitre.org
- https://github.com/openssh/openssh-portable/commit/4353fdc43ef646c43a8dda7025cc1a898caf1482 VENDOR cve@mitre.org
- https://github.com/predkambrij/sshhole-repro VENDOR cve@mitre.org
- https://hachyderm.io/@damienmiller/117563026759098135 REFERENCE cve@mitre.org
- https://marc.info/?l=openssh-unix-dev&m=179388064263131&w=2 REFERENCE cve@mitre.org
- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50377976 REFERENCE cve@mitre.org
- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50378228 REFERENCE cve@mitre.org
- https://www.openssh.org/releasenotes.html#10.6p2 REFERENCE cve@mitre.org
- https://alpinelinux.org/posts/2026-11-05-openssh-password-authentication-bypass/ REFERENCE af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
- https://github.com/google/goonami-scanner/pull/277 VENDOR af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50379704 REFERENCE af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
- https://sshhole.com REFERENCE 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0