# CVE-2026-110923: OpenSSH path traversal in sftp copy

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110923-a-flaw-was-found-in-openssh-during-an-sftp-copy-a-malicious  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-15. Updated: 2026-10-19  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-110923 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.5 · Published 2026-10-15

OpenSSH's sftp client can be tricked by a malicious server into writing files outside the intended directory. An attacker who controls an sftp server could craft responses that cause the client to save downloaded files to arbitrary locations on the user's system, potentially overwriting sensitive files or placing malicious code in executable directories.

Technologies: [OpenSSH](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/openssh-openssh). Vendors: [OpenSSH](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/openssh).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-110923 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-110923 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-110923?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.5, published 15 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** OpenSSH OpenSSH.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-110923?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-110923 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-110923?** Check whether you run OpenSSH. 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

A path traversal vulnerability exists in OpenSSH's sftp client where a malicious server can provide an empty name, slash-only path, or ".." basename in response to copy requests, causing files to be written outside the user-selected destination directory. The vulnerability requires the user to initiate an sftp connection to a malicious or compromised server. This is a classic path traversal flaw exploitable over the network during normal sftp operations.

## Affected products

- OpenSSH OpenSSH

## Timeline

- 2026-10-15: disclosed

## References

- [https://catalog.redhat.com/software/containers/](https://catalog.redhat.com/software/containers/)
- [https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/](https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/)

## Related threats

- [OpenSSH password authentication bypass on musl libc without PAM](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123158-sshd-in-openssh-before-10-6p2-on-linux-when-musl-libc-is-used)
- [OpenSSH decompression memory exhaustion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110927-a-flaw-was-found-in-openssh-after-compression-is-negotiated-a)
- [OpenSSH GSSAPI credential persistence authentication bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110924-a-flaw-was-found-in-openssh-with-gssapi-authentication-enabled-a)
- [OpenSSH compression dictionary information disclosure](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110926-a-flaw-was-found-in-openssh-when-compression-is-negotiated)
- [OpenSSH shell metacharacter injection in ProxyCommand](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110925-a-flaw-was-found-in-openssh-a-username-entered-on-the-ssh)