Vulnerability/
https://seclists.org/oss-sec/2026/q4/537

https://seclists.org/oss-sec/2026/q4/537: "sshole": password authentication bypass: OpenSSH + musl libc

Published Nov 6, 2026

Updated

Affected Software

2 affected components

OpenSSH OpenSSH

musl musl libc

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the supplied discussion indicate that Debian systems accept an error return from crypt(3) as a matching password hash?

No. The Debian crypt(3) documentation quoted in the discussion says that error output begins with an asterisk, is shorter than 13 characters, and will not compare equal to the stored setting.

What error behavior should be considered when assessing crypt(3) handling?

The cited current documentation describes an invalid hash string on error for crypt_r, crypt_rn, crypt_ra, and crypt. An older Debian manpage documented NULL on error instead, so assessments should account for the API behavior and documentation applicable to the deployed environment.

Company

Resources

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co

By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.