ConnectBot SSH library allows excessive memory allocation
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Active
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-789.
Summary
ConnectBot cbssh before 0.3.1 and the Maven package org.connectbot.sshlib:sshlib from 0 through 0.3.0 are affected. The SSH parser trusts attacker-controlled byte lengths and element counts without checking they fit in the containing packet (CWE-20). A malicious or compromised SSH server can send a small malformed packet that causes excessive memory allocation and an uncaught OutOfMemoryError that terminates the application. Only a client connection is needed, with no authentication.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
ConnectBot SSH Client Library is written in Kotlin with Kaitai Struct and KStateMachine. Prior to 0.3.1, the SSH protocol parser trusts attacker-controlled inner byte lengths and element counts without verifying that they fit in the containing packet. A malicious or compromised SSH server can return a small malformed packet whose oversized declarations cause the Kaitai Struct Java runtime to attempt excessive allocation or repeated parsing before detecting truncated input. The general transport path requires a client connection but no authentication or optional feature; malformed SSH-agent messages additionally require SSH agent forwarding. The issue can raise an uncaught OutOfMemoryError and terminate the application process, with no demonstrated confidentiality or integrity impact. This issue is fixed in version 0.3.1.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| connectbot | cbssh | before 0.3.1 | 0.3.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | org.connectbot.sshlib:sshlib (Maven) | up to 0.3.0 | — | No fix listed | GHSA-ch3q-cw5r-f4hg |
- cbssh Vendorconnectbot Affected before 0.3.1 Fixed in 0.3.1 Patch available CNA
- org.connectbot.sshlib:sshlib (Maven) Vendor— Affected up to 0.3.0 Fixed in — No fix listed GHSA-ch3q-cw5r-f4hg
Remediation
Upgrade cbssh to version 0.3.1, which fixes the issue. The sources list no fixed version for org.connectbot.sshlib:sshlib.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA cbssh (connectbot) Fixed in 0.3.1
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-13 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-54700
- 2026-10-14 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-10-18 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 CVSS score added · Red Hat
References
More connectbot vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-26623 The SSH transport protocol with certain OpenSSH extensions, found in OpenSSH before 9.6… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.9
- TI-2026-71766 Integer overflow in ConnectBot SSH DER private-key parsing CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.7
Sources
- CVE-2026-54700 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-54700 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-54700 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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