CVE-1999-0248: Race Condition
A race condition in the authentication agent mechanism of sshd 1.2.17 allows an attacker to steal another user's credentials.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Configuration
Disable the SSH authentication agent mechanism / agent forwarding in sshd (for example, set AllowAgentForwarding no in sshd_config) until a vendor patch is available for sshd 1.2.17.
sshd (authentication agent mechanism) agent_forwarding = disabled - Compensating control
Restrict access to SSH (sshd 1.2.17) to trusted IPs or management networks via firewall rules or network segmentation to reduce exposure of the vulnerable authentication agent mechanism.
- Operational
Rotate any SSH keys or other credentials that may have been exposed and audit authentication logs for signs of credential theft related to sshd 1.2.17.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-1999-0248?
CVE-1999-0248 is considered a critical vulnerability due to its potential to allow credential theft.
How do I fix CVE-1999-0248?
To mitigate CVE-1999-0248, upgrade the SSH software to a version later than 1.2.27.
What systems are affected by CVE-1999-0248?
CVE-1999-0248 affects SSH version 1.2.17 and earlier versions.
What impact does CVE-1999-0248 have?
CVE-1999-0248 can lead to unauthorized access and compromise of user credentials.
Is CVE-1999-0248 still a concern today?
While this vulnerability is older and primarily affects legacy systems, it remains a concern for environments using unsupported SSH versions.