Bug 2423148 (CVE-2025-14821)

Summary: CVE-2025-14821 libssh: libssh: Insecure default configuration leads to local man-in-the-middle attacks on Windows
Product: [Other] Security Response Reporter: OSIDB Bzimport <bzimport>
Component: vulnerabilityAssignee: Product Security DevOps Team <prodsec-dev>
Status: NEW --- QA Contact:
Severity: low Docs Contact:
Priority: low    
Version: unspecifiedCC: adudiak, kshier, security-response-team, stcannon, teagle, yguenane
Target Milestone: ---Keywords: Security
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Hardware: All   
OS: Linux   
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A flaw was found in libssh. This vulnerability allows local man-in-the-middle attacks, security downgrades of SSH (Secure Shell) connections, and manipulation of trusted host information, posing a significant risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of SSH communications via an insecure default configuration on Windows systems where the library automatically loads configuration files from the C:\etc directory, which can be created and modified by unprivileged local users.
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oVirt Team: --- RHEL 7.3 requirements from Atomic Host:
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Description OSIDB Bzimport 2025-12-17 11:52:26 UTC 
An insecure default configuration vulnerability exists in libssh on Windows systems where the library automatically loads configuration files from the C:\etc directory. Since this directory can be created and modified by unprivileged local users, an attacker can inject malicious SSH configuration or known-hosts entries. This enables local man-in-the-middle attacks, security downgrades of SSH connections, and manipulation of trusted host information. Exploitation requires only low privileges and no user interaction, posing a significant risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of SSH communications that rely on libssh.