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Vulnerability record · CVE-2018-20685 · published 10 January 2019

CVE-2018-20685: Openbsd openssh incorrect authorization vulnerability

Openbsd · Openssh

In OpenSSH 7.9, scp.c in the scp client allows remote SSH servers to bypass intended access restrictions via the filename of . or an empty filename. The impact is modifying the permissions of the target directory on the client side.

5.3 CVSS 3.1 Medium EPSS 3.7% · top 10.7% CWE-863 · Incorrect authorization
5.3CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 2.6
3.7%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
22Affected product versions listed by NVD
28References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

In OpenSSH 7.9, scp.c in the scp client allows remote SSH servers to bypass intended access restrictions via the filename of . or an empty filename. The impact is modifying the permissions of the target directory on the client side.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

Affected products

22 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106531 Broken Link
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3702 Third Party Advisory
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-412672.pdf PatchThird Party Advisory
https://cvsweb.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/usr.bin/ssh/scp.c.diff?r1=1.197&r2=1.198&f=h Patch
https://github.com/openssh/openssh-portable/commit/6010c0303a422a9c5fa8860c061bf7105eb7f8b2 Patch
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/03/msg00030.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201903-16 Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202007-53 Third Party Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190215-0001/ Third Party Advisory
https://sintonen.fi/advisories/scp-client-multiple-vulnerabilities.txt PatchThird Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3885-1/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4387 Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html PatchThird Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2019-5072832.html PatchThird Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106531 Broken Link
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3702 Third Party Advisory
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-412672.pdf PatchThird Party Advisory
https://cvsweb.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/usr.bin/ssh/scp.c.diff?r1=1.197&r2=1.198&f=h Patch
https://github.com/openssh/openssh-portable/commit/6010c0303a422a9c5fa8860c061bf7105eb7f8b2 Patch
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/03/msg00030.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201903-16 Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202007-53 Third Party Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190215-0001/ Third Party Advisory
https://sintonen.fi/advisories/scp-client-multiple-vulnerabilities.txt PatchThird Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3885-1/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4387 Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html PatchThird Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2019-5072832.html PatchThird Party Advisory

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2018-20685), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-29). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.