Title: OpenSSH Private Key Authentication Check Vulnerability
Severity: HIGH
Description:
OpenSSH is a freely available, open source implementation of the SSH protocol. It is actively developed and maintained by the OpenSSH project.
A problem with the latest development version of the software has been found that may allow unauthorized local access to systems using and/or allowing public key authentication as a means of granting local access. The problem occurs in the SSH2 portion of the package.
Upon connecting to an SSH server that uses public key authentication to grant access, the typical sequence of events involves checking first for compatible protocol, then for the possession of the public key. The server then checks then challenges the client requesting verification of possession of the private key.
However, the authentication check for the private key is never performed in this revision of the software. A malicious user with access to any other users authorized_keys file would be able to log into any server with the identity of the owner of the file.
This problem affects the 2.3.1 version of the software available between January 18, 2001, and February 8, 2001.
Affected Products:
- OpenBSD OpenSSH 2.3.1
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