2026-03-26 20:6CVE-2026-0967redhat
PUBLISHED5.2CWE-1333

Libssh: libssh: denial of service via inefficient regular expression processing

A flaw was found in libssh. A remote attacker, by controlling client configuration files or known_hosts files, could craft specific hostnames that when processed by the `match_pattern()` function can lead to inefficient regular expression backtracking. This can cause timeouts and resource exhaustion, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS) for the client.

Problem type

Affected products

Red Hat

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

References

GitHub Security Advisories

GHSA-6jpg-fr24-wpvf

A flaw was found in libssh. A remote attacker, by controlling client configuration files or...

https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-6jpg-fr24-wpvf

A flaw was found in libssh. A remote attacker, by controlling client configuration files or known_hosts files, could craft specific hostnames that when processed by the match_pattern() function can lead to inefficient regular expression backtracking. This can cause timeouts and resource exhaustion, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS) for the client.

JSON source

https://cveawg.mitre.org/api/cve/CVE-2026-0967
Click to expand
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    "dateUpdated": "2026-03-26T20:06:30.707Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-01-14T21:55:01.348Z",
    "datePublished": "2026-03-26T20:06:30.707Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
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      "title": "Libssh: libssh: denial of service via inefficient regular expression processing",
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "A flaw was found in libssh. A remote attacker, by controlling client configuration files or known_hosts files, could craft specific hostnames that when processed by the `match_pattern()` function can lead to inefficient regular expression backtracking. This can cause timeouts and resource exhaustion, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS) for the client."
        }
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      "affected": [
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          "packageName": "libssh2",
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          "packageName": "libssh",
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          "packageName": "libssh",
          "cpes": [
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          "collectionURL": "https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/",
          "packageName": "rhcos",
          "cpes": [
            "cpe:/a:redhat:openshift:4"
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          "defaultStatus": "affected"
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      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "description": "Inefficient Regular Expression Complexity",
              "cweId": "CWE-1333",
              "type": "CWE"
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          "url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-0967",
          "tags": [
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            "x_refsource_REDHAT"
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        {
          "url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2436981",
          "name": "RHBZ#2436981",
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            "x_refsource_REDHAT"
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            "attackVector": "LOCAL",
            "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
            "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
            "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
            "scope": "UNCHANGED",
            "confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "integrityImpact": "NONE",
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            "baseScore": 2.2,
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      "workarounds": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Avoid using complex patterns in configuration files and known_hosts."
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      "timeline": [
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          "time": "2026-02-04T23:43:23.869Z",
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Reported to Red Hat."
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          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Made public."
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      ],
      "credits": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Red Hat would like to thank Jakub Jelen (libssh) and Kang Yang for reporting this issue."
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}