Description
sshd in OpenSSH before 7.4, when privilege separation is not used, creates forwarded Unix-domain sockets as root, which might allow local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors, related to serverloop.c.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | openssh | 1:7.4p1-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | openssh | 1:7.4p1-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | openssh | 1:7.4p1-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | openssh | 1:7.2p2-4ubuntu2.4 | USN-3538-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | openssh | 1:6.6p1-2ubuntu2.10 | USN-3538-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | openssh | 7.2p2-66.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0264-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | openssh-askpass-gnome | 7.2p2-66.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:0264-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | openssh | 7.2p2-66.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0264-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | openssh-askpass-gnome | 7.2p2-66.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:0264-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | openssh | 8.4p1-7.4 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11124-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
Show 18 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.7 | openssh | 7.5_p1-r8 | — |
| Alpine v3.6 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.5 | openssh | 7.4_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.4 | openssh | 7.2_p2-r4 | — |
| Alpine v3.3 | openssh | 7.2_p2-r3 | — |
| Alpine v3.2 | openssh | 6.8_p1-r9 | — |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- OpenSSH < 7.4 - 'UsePrivilegeSeparation Disabled' Forwarded Unix Domain Sockets Privilege Escalation EDB-40962 · local · Dec 23, 2016 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 6
- USN-3538-1 openssh vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 1, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0264-1 Security update for openssh SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11124-1 openssh-8.4p1-7.4 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-1996 OpenSSH: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jan 12, 2026
- ICSA-22-349-21 Siemens SCALANCE X-200RNA Switch Devices CISA ICS & IT advisories · Dec 13, 2022
- SSA-412672 SSA-412672: Multiple OpenSSL and OpenSSH Vulnerabilities in SCALANCE X-200RNA Switch Devices before V3.2.7 Siemens ProductCERT · Dec 13, 2022
References
- 94972 vdb-entry
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20171130-0002/
- [oss-security] 20161219 Announce: OpenSSH 7.4 released mailing-list
- 1037490 vdb-entry
- https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbux03818en_us
- FreeBSD-SA-17:01 vendor-advisory
- http://www.slackware.com/security/viewer.php?l=slackware-security&y=2016&m=slackware-security.647637
- https://github.com/openbsd/src/commit/c76fac666ea038753294f2ac94d310f8adece9ce
- 40962 exploit
- https://bugs.chromium.org/p/project-zero/issues/detail?id=1010
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140262/OpenSSH-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html
- https://www.openssh.com/txt/release-7.4
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-412672.pdf