Vulnerability/
https://seclists.org/oss-sec/2026/q4/540

https://seclists.org/oss-sec/2026/q4/540: "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

Why should defenders not rely on obscure or uncommon account names as a mitigation?

Attackers are described as starting with pregenerated lists of known and probable account names, so account-name obscurity is not expected to deter them.

Which account names are likely to be included in attacker username lists?

Examples identified include root, daemon, ldap, postfix, apache, mysql, sshd, and rumpelstiltskin.

What is the purpose of making invalid accounts take the same time as valid accounts?

It is intended to prevent account enumeration through timing differences. The discussion notes that this does not meaningfully hinder attackers who already use likely username lists.

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