CVE-2025-61984: OpenBSD OpenSSH · Improper Handling of Invalid Use of Special Elements
Affects OpenBSD OpenSSHSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 3.6 Low : upgrade to 10.1 when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 06:26 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 39% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 10.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 6 Oct 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-26.
What to do
Upgrade OpenBSD OpenSSH to 10.1.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| OpenBSDOpenSSH | Affected
| Fixed in
|
AI-suggested
If you cannot patch yet, avoid using untrusted sources for usernames that could contain control characters, and exercise caution when using ProxyCommand with usernames derived from command line or %-sequence expansions.
Description
ssh in OpenSSH before 10.1 allows control characters in usernames that originate from certain possibly untrusted sources, potentially leading to code execution when a ProxyCommand is used. The untrusted sources are the command line and %-sequence expansion of a configuration file. (A configuration file that provides a complete literal username is not categorized as an untrusted source.)
References
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/06/1 (opens in a new tab)
- marc.info (opens in a new tab)
- openssh.com/releasenotes.html (opens in a new tab)
- dgl.cx/2025/10/bash-a-newline-ssh-proxycommand-cve-2025-61984 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/07/1 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/12/1 (opens in a new tab)
- vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-61984-detection-script-remote-code-execution-vulnerability-affecting-openssh (opens in a new tab)
- vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-61984-mitigation-script-remote-code-execution-vulnerability-affecting-openssh (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html (opens in a new tab)