Description
scp in OpenSSH through 8.3p1 allows command injection in the scp.c toremote function, as demonstrated by backtick characters in the destination argument. NOTE: the vendor reportedly has stated that they intentionally omit validation of "anomalous argument transfers" because that could "stand a great chance of breaking existing workflows."
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 | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 13 | openssh | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 12 | openssh | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | openssh-ssh1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | openssh-ssh1 | No fix yet | — |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | openssh | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | openssh | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | openssh | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | openssh | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8 | openssh +6 | 8.0p1-24.el8 | RHSA-2024:3166 |
| RHEL 8 | pam_ssh_agent_auth | 0.10.3-7.24.el8 | RHSA-2024:3166 |
AlmaLinux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux 8 | openssh +6 | 8.0p1-24.el8 | ALSA-2024:3166 |
| AlmaLinux 8 | pam_ssh_agent_auth | 0.10.3-7.24.el8 | ALSA-2024:3166 |
Rocky Linux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 8 | openssh | 8.0p1-24.el8 | RLSA-2024:3166 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | openssh | 8.3_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | openssh | 8.3_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | openssh | 8.3_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | openssh | 8.3_p1-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | openssh | 8.3_p1-r0 | — |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | openssh | 8.3_p1-r0 | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 8 | openssh +6 | 8.0p1-24.0.1.el8 | ELSA-2024-3166 |
| Oracle Linux 8 | pam_ssh_agent_auth | 0.10.3-7.24.0.1.el8 | ELSA-2024-3166 |
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.
GitHub 4 repositories
-
cpandya2909/CVE-2020-15778 ★ 143 · Jul 18, 2020
-
Neko-chanQwQ/CVE-2020-15778-Exploit ★ 38 · Jul 15, 2021
Exploit for CVE-2020-15778(OpenSSH vul)
-
yifanzhg/CVE-2020-15778 ★ 3 · Sep 27, 2023
-
drackyjr/CVE-2020-15778-SCP-Command-Injection-Check ★ 2 · Jul 28, 2025
This script is a safe and simple tool that helps system users, students, and administrators check if their SCP (Secure Copy) client is vulnerable to CVE-2020-15778, a command injection vulnerability …
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 11
- ALSA-2024:3166 Moderate: openssh security update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- SSA-398330 SSA-398330: Vulnerabilities in the additional GNU/Linux subsystem of the SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518(F)-4 PN/DP MFP >= V3.1.0 and < V3.1.5 Siemens ProductCERT · Oct 13, 2026
- RHSA-2024:3166 Red Hat Security Advisory: openssh security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- SCA-2025-0011 Vulnerabilities affecting Endress+Hauser SSG-E210GC SICK PSIRT · Oct 2, 2025
- ICSA-23-348-10 Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 CISA ICS & IT advisories · Aug 12, 2025
- SCA-2025-0009 Vulnerabilities affecting SICK TDC-E210GC SICK PSIRT · Aug 1, 2025
- WID-SEC-2022-2413 OpenSSH: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Ausführen von beliebigem Programmcode mit den Rechten des Dienstes BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · May 22, 2025
- RLSA-2024:3166 Moderate: openssh security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · May 7, 2025
- ELSA-2024-3166 Moderate: openssh security update (Oracle Linux 8) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · May 23, 2024
- WID-SEC-2024-1082 Juniper JUNOS: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · May 9, 2024
- WID-SEC-2023-1599 IBM Security Guardium: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jun 29, 2023