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TI-2016-05583 Aliases CVE-2016-6515GHSA-vf2p-h3m7-ch75

The auth_password function in auth-passwd.c in sshd in OpenSSH before 7.3 does not limit…

Priority HIGH 67CWE-20Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 8 fixed, 2 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

The auth_password function in auth-passwd.c in sshd in OpenSSH before 7.3 does not limit password lengths for password authentication, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crypt CPU consumption) via a long string.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.58568 99th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by the CNA
Fix Partial Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 8 fixed, 2 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 2

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:*:p2:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 7.2VulnerableOpenBSD
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*24VulnerableFedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:*:p2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 7.2 Vulnerable ·OpenBSD
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:24:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject

Remediation

Red Hat 1 advisory

  • RHSA-2017:2029 Released 2017-08-01 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    openssh security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) openssh-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-askpass-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-clients-7.4p1-11.el7 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) openssh-cavs-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-ldap-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-server-sysvinit-7.4p1-11.el7 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) openssh-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-clients-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-keycat-7.4p1-11.el7 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) openssh-askpass-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-cavs-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-ldap-7.4p1-11.el7 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) openssh-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-askpass-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-clients-7.4p1-11.el7 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) openssh-cavs-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-ldap-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-server-sysvinit-7.4p1-11.el7 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) openssh-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-askpass-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-clients-7.4p1-11.el7 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) openssh-cavs-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-ldap-7.4p1-11.el7, openssh-server-sysvinit-7.4p1-11.el7 +1

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2017:2029
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2017:2029
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2017:2029
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2017:2029
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2017:2029
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2017:2029
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2017:2029
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2017:2029

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-6515
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vf2p-h3m7-ch75

References

Exploit 1

Patch 1

Advisory 4

Other 7

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences