CVE Watchtower

CVE-2026-123158Openbsd Openssh

NVDCVSS scored by cve@mitre.org

Vulnerability Summary

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.
Severity Level
HIGH(8.1)
Published Date
Nov 5, 2026
Last Modified
Nov 10, 2026
Exploitation Status
ACTIVE
EPSS Score (30-Day)
18.90%Probability
Root Weakness (CWE)
See the MITRE CWE entry for the full definition of this weakness.
CVSS v3.1 Base Metrics — Score 8.1 (HIGH)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityHigh
Privileges RequiredNone
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh

Affected & Patched Versions

Affected Versions
  • Openbsd Openssh < 10.6
  • Openbsd Openssh
Patched Versions
  • Openbsd Openssh 10.6

What to do

Patch now. CISA lists this flaw as exploited in the wild and set a federal remediation deadline of Nov 12, 2026.

  1. Check whether you run Openbsd Openssh and which version.
  2. Update to a patched version listed above, then confirm the new version.
  3. Review logs and exposed services for signs of earlier compromise.

CISA required action: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.

CISA KEV Status

Listed in Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Added: Nov 9, 2026
Remediation due: Nov 12, 2026 (deadline passed)

Timeline

  • Nov 5, 2026Published
  • Nov 9, 2026Added to CISA KEV catalog
  • Nov 10, 2026Record last modified
  • Nov 12, 2026KEV remediation due date

Score, severity and exploitation changes are tracked from the day Watchtower started logging them.

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Data last checked: Nov 14, 2026 05:11 UTC