Gitea has insecure default SSH settings
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub. Impact type from CWE-327.
Summary
## Summary The built-in SSH server currently advertises a number of key exchange, MAC, and host key algorithms that are considered weak or broken. The defaults should be tightened so a fresh installation passes a baseline SSH security audit out of the box. ## Details Running `ssh-audit` against a default deployment flags the following as `fail`: - **Key exchange** - `ecdh-sha2-nistp256` - `ecdh-sha2-nistp384` - `ecdh-sha2-nistp521` - **MAC** - `hmac-sha1` - **Host key** - `ssh-rsa` ## Reproduction ```sh docker run -it --rm positronsecurity/ssh-audit -p 2222 gitea.local ``` ## Impact Default deployments expose algorithms that are known-weak or deprecated upstream. The current workaround requires manually setting several `GITEA__server__SSH_SERVER_*` variables, which most users will never do. ### Workaround ```ini [server] SSH_SERVER_KEY_EXCHANGES = curve25519-sha256, diffie-hellman-group14-sha256 SSH_SERVER_CIPHERS = [email protected], aes128-ctr, aes192-ctr, aes256-ctr, [email protected], [email protected] SSH_SERVER_MACS = [email protected], hmac-sha2-256 ``` There is no exposed option to restrict host key algorithms, so `ssh-rsa` remains advertised. ## Acceptance criteria - [ ] Default `SSH_SERVER_KEY_EXCHANGES`, `SSH_SERVER_CIPHERS`, and `SSH_SERVER_MACS` updated to the secure list above. - [ ] New `SSH_SERVER_HOST_KEY_ALGORITHMS` option added, with a default that excludes `ssh-rsa`. - [ ] Documentation updated to reflect the new defaults. - [ ] `ssh-audit` against a fresh install reports no `[fail]` entries.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | code.gitea.io/gitea (Go) | before 1.25.0 | 1.25.0 | Patch available | GHSA-3m6q-h5gj-7mrw |
- code.gitea.io/gitea (Go) Vendor— Affected before 1.25.0 Fixed in 1.25.0 Patch available GHSA-3m6q-h5gj-7mrw
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-3m6q-h5gj-7mrw code.gitea.io/gitea (Go) Fixed in 1.25.0 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-3m6q-h5gj-7mrw
References
Sources
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