CVE-2025-14821: libssh insecure default configuration on Windows

CVE-2025-14821 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-04-07

A security flaw in the libssh library on Windows allows unprivileged users to interfere with secure connections. The library incorrectly looks for configuration files in a directory that any user can create or modify, allowing an attacker to redirect traffic or downgrade security settings. This could lead to the theft of login credentials or the interception of sensitive data transmitted over SSH.

Technologies: Libssh, Redhat Hardened Images. Vendors: Libssh, Redhat.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2025-14821 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2025-14821 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2025-14821?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 7 April 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Libssh < 0.11.4, < 0.12.0.
Is there a fix for CVE-2025-14821?
A patch was published on 2026-02-10: libssh versions 0.12.0 and 0.11.4 released Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.
How is CVE-2025-14821 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in a software library.
Am I affected by CVE-2025-14821?
Check whether you run Libssh or Redhat Hardened Images at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

Technical details

An uncontrolled search path vulnerability (CWE-427) exists in libssh on Windows systems. The library is configured by default to load configuration files and known-hosts data from the 'C:\etc' directory. Because unprivileged local users can typically create and modify this directory on Windows, an attacker can inject malicious configurations or host keys. This allows for local man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, security protocol downgrades, and manipulation of trusted host information without requiring user interaction. The issue is addressed in libssh versions 0.11.4 and 0.12.0.

Affected products

  • libssh libssh < 0.11.4, < 0.12.0

Timeline

  • 2025-12-17: disclosed: Initial bug report in Red Hat Bugzilla
  • 2026-02-10: patched: libssh versions 0.12.0 and 0.11.4 released
  • 2026-04-07: advisory: CVE-2025-14821 published

References

This page as Markdown. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link back.