Net::LibSSH for Perl skips host key verification on connect
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Net::LibSSH for Perl versions before 0.004 connects to a server without checking its host key against known_hosts. The connect method reports success once the SSH connection is established, so the session never identifies the peer, and the strict_hostkeycheck and knownhosts options have no effect. An unauthenticated remote attacker who can redirect the connection can receive the password when password authentication is used, and can read and modify commands and data sent over the session. The weakness is CWE-322, key exchange without entity authentication.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
Description from the CNA
Net::LibSSH versions before 0.004 for Perl authenticate to an unverified server because connect never checks the host key against known_hosts. connect reports success as soon as ssh_connect returns SSH_OK. libssh leaves the known-hosts check to the application, and this binding never makes it, so the strict_hostkeycheck and knownhosts options are set on the session and then decide nothing. Password, agent and public-key authentication, channel and SFTP operations all run on a session whose peer was never identified, so an attacker who can redirect the connection receives the password when password authentication is used, and commands and data sent over the session.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Total
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Net-LibSSH | before 0.004 | 0.004 | Patch available | CNA |
- Net-LibSSH Vendor— Affected before 0.004 Fixed in 0.004 Patch available CNA
Remediation
Upgrade Net-LibSSH to version 0.004 or later. The sources list no advisory for this fix.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
- Fix · CNA Net-LibSSH Fixed in 0.004
Timeline
- 2026-10-21 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-94423
- 2026-10-22 Alias added: GHSA-5q49-7p5p-mjwf
- 2026-10-30 CVSS score added · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-30 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-30 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
References
Sources
- CVE-2026-94423 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-94423 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-5q49-7p5p-mjwf · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences