CVE-2026-55199

libssh2 - Pre-Authentication DoS via SSH_MSG_EXT_INFO Handler

HIGH
7.5
CVSS Score
Published: June 17, 2026 at 06:44 PM UTC
Updated: July 14, 2026 at 10:17 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLIBSSH2

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Severity
HIGH7.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.9%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

libssh2 through 1.11.1, fixed in commit 1762685, contains a pre-authentication denial of service vulnerability in the SSH_MSG_EXT_INFO handler in src/packet.c that allows a malicious SSH server to cause a client CPU exhaustion loop by sending a crafted extension count value. A malicious server can set nr_extensions to 0xFFFFFFFF during key exchange, causing the client to spin in a tight CPU loop for over 60 seconds because return values from _libssh2_get_string() are unchecked and the session timeout does not apply to CPU-bound loops.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v ≤ 1.11.1
Vendor states this is fixed in 17626857d20b3c9a1addfa45979dadcee1cd84a4 (unaffected)

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-835

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