# CVE-2026-35414: OpenBSD OpenSSH incorrect principal matching in sshd via authorized_keys

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35414-openbsd-openssh-incorrect-principal-matching-in-sshd-via  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-02. Updated: 2026-07-24  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-35414 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4.2 · Published 2026-04-02

OpenSSH is a widely used tool for secure remote access to servers. A vulnerability in how it handles security certificates could allow an unauthorized person to log in to a server if the server's configuration uses a specific "principals" list and trusts a Certificate Authority that allows commas in names. This could lead to a complete takeover of the affected user account and access to sensitive data.

Technologies: [OpenBSD Openssh](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/openssh). Vendors: [OpenBSD](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/openbsd).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-35414 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-35414 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-35414?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4.2, published 2 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** OpenBSD Openssh before 10.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-35414?** A patch was published on 2026-04-02: OpenSSH 10.3 released. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-35414 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-35414?** Check whether you run OpenBSD Openssh 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

A logic error exists in sshd(8) when matching the 'principals' option in an authorized_keys file against a list of principals encoded in an SSH certificate. The matching algorithm incorrectly handles cases where a principal name in the certificate contains a comma character. An attacker can exploit this if the target's authorized_keys file lists multiple principals and trusts a Certificate Authority (CA) that allows commas within the principal names it issues. This vulnerability specifically affects user-trusted CA keys in authorized_keys; the standard TrustedUserCAKeys and AuthorizedPrincipalsFile paths are not impacted. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to bypass intended principal restrictions and authenticate as a different user. The issue is resolved in OpenSSH 10.3.

## Affected products

- OpenBSD OpenSSH before 10.3

## Timeline

- 2026-04-02: disclosed: Vulnerability disclosed in OpenSSH 10.3 release notes.
- 2026-04-02: patched: OpenSSH 10.3 released.

## References

- [https://marc.info/?l=openssh-unix-dev&m=177513443901484&w=2](https://marc.info/?l=openssh-unix-dev&m=177513443901484&w=2)
- [https://www.openssh.org/releasenotes.html](https://www.openssh.org/releasenotes.html)
- [https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/04/02/3](https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/04/02/3)

## 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)
- [In sshd in OpenSSH before 10.5, the restrict keyword (in authorized_keys) was supposed to be applicable to tunnel forwarding but was not.](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-73283-in-sshd-in-openssh-before-10-5-the-restrict-keyword-in-authorized)
- [In ssh in OpenSSH before 10.5, a use-after-free for realloc data can occur if a certain pair of remote-forwarding operations are concurrent.](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-73282-in-ssh-in-openssh-before-10-5-a-use-after-free-for-realloc-data)
- [In ssh-agent in OpenSSH before 10.5, some operations can occur remotely but were intended to occur only locally…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-73281-in-ssh-agent-in-openssh-before-10-5-some-operations-can-occur)
- [OpenSSH use-after-free in ssh client during key re-exchange](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-60002-openssh-use-after-free-in-ssh-client-during-key-re-exchange)