Red Hat Security Advisory: openssh security update
A moderate severity vulnerability (CVE-2025-26465) affects OpenSSH in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 where a machine-in-the-middle attack is possible if the VerifyHostKeyDNS option is enabled. This vulnerability allows an attacker to potentially intercept or manipulate SSH connections under specific configuration conditions. Red Hat has issued a security update addressing this issue. The vulnerability impacts multiple architectures including x86_64, s390x, ppc64le, and aarch64. No known exploits are reported in the wild at this time. Users are advised to apply the available update to mitigate the risk.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-26465 is a vulnerability in OpenSSH related to the VerifyHostKeyDNS feature that could allow a machine-in-the-middle attack. This affects Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 across several architectures. The issue is fixed in the security update released by Red Hat as per advisory RHSA-2025:16823. The vulnerability is rated as moderate severity by Red Hat Product Security. No CVSS score is provided in the advisory. The update addresses the risk by correcting the handling of host key verification when DNS is used.
Potential Impact
If the VerifyHostKeyDNS option is enabled in OpenSSH, an attacker could perform a machine-in-the-middle attack, potentially intercepting or altering SSH communications. This could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of SSH sessions. The impact is limited to systems with this specific configuration enabled. There are no reports of active exploitation in the wild.
Mitigation Recommendations
Red Hat has released an official security update for OpenSSH in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 that fixes this vulnerability. Users should apply the update as described in Red Hat advisory RHSA-2025:16823 and the referenced article https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258. Applying this update mitigates the vulnerability. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor.
Red Hat Security Advisory: openssh security update
Description
A moderate severity vulnerability (CVE-2025-26465) affects OpenSSH in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 where a machine-in-the-middle attack is possible if the VerifyHostKeyDNS option is enabled. This vulnerability allows an attacker to potentially intercept or manipulate SSH connections under specific configuration conditions. Red Hat has issued a security update addressing this issue. The vulnerability impacts multiple architectures including x86_64, s390x, ppc64le, and aarch64. No known exploits are reported in the wild at this time. Users are advised to apply the available update to mitigate the risk.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-26465 is a vulnerability in OpenSSH related to the VerifyHostKeyDNS feature that could allow a machine-in-the-middle attack. This affects Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 across several architectures. The issue is fixed in the security update released by Red Hat as per advisory RHSA-2025:16823. The vulnerability is rated as moderate severity by Red Hat Product Security. No CVSS score is provided in the advisory. The update addresses the risk by correcting the handling of host key verification when DNS is used.
Potential Impact
If the VerifyHostKeyDNS option is enabled in OpenSSH, an attacker could perform a machine-in-the-middle attack, potentially intercepting or altering SSH communications. This could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of SSH sessions. The impact is limited to systems with this specific configuration enabled. There are no reports of active exploitation in the wild.
Mitigation Recommendations
Red Hat has released an official security update for OpenSSH in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 that fixes this vulnerability. Users should apply the update as described in Red Hat advisory RHSA-2025:16823 and the referenced article https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258. Applying this update mitigates the vulnerability. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Csaf Category
- csaf_security_advisory
- Csaf Version
- 2.0
- Publisher
- Red Hat Product Security
- Advisory Id
- RHSA-2025:16823
- Cve Count
- 1
- Additional Cves
- []
- Cvss Version
- null
Threat ID: 6a1f4e87e29bf47b50081883
Added to database: 6/2/2026, 9:43:35 PM
Last enriched: 6/2/2026, 10:11:17 PM
Last updated: 6/3/2026, 4:57:15 AM
Views: 2
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