CURL-CVE-2026-12064: proto-default skips SSH verification
When a user invokes curl using a schemeless URL combined with --proto-default sftp (or scp), a disconnect occurs between the tool layer and libcurl. The tool layer incorrectly infers the URL scheme, which erroneously bypasses the initialization of critical SSH security options like CURLOPTSSHHOSTPUBLICKEYSHA256 and CURLOPTSSHKNOWNHOSTS. Conversely, the libcurl runtime successfully honors CURLOPTDEFAULTPROTOCOL and establishes the connection via SFTP/SCP as specified. Because the tool layer skipped the security configuration, these SSH host verification options are silently omitted, causing curl to connect to an unverified SSH remote host without throwing an error.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Compensating control
Do not use schemeless URLs with --proto-default sftp or --proto-default scp; specify the sftp:// or scp:// scheme explicitly to avoid bypassing SSH host verification.