# CVE-2026-77185: Apache MINA SSHD authentication bypass in asynchronous authentication

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-77185-authentication-bypass-in-sshd-core-in-apache-mina-sshd-versions-2  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-30. Updated: 2026-09-30  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-77185 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.1 · Published 2026-09-30

Apache MINA SSHD is a Java library used to build SSH servers. A flaw in its asynchronous authentication feature allows attackers to bypass public-key or hostbased signature verification, potentially enabling unauthorized access to SSH servers that implement this mechanism. This could allow an attacker to authenticate without valid credentials on affected systems.

Technologies: [Apache MINA SSHD](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/mina-sshd). Vendors: [Apache](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/apache).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-77185 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-77185 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-77185?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.1, published 30 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Apache MINA SSHD 2.0.0 to 2.19.0, 3.0.0-M1 to 3.0.0-M5.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-77185?** 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-2026-77185 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-77185?** Check whether you run Apache MINA SSHD 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

The vulnerability exists in the asynchronous authentication mechanism of MINA SSHD's server implementation, where signature validation is improperly handled or skipped for public-key and hostbased authentication schemes. An attacker with network access can exploit this by providing invalid or missing signatures during authentication. The flaw is fixed in versions 2.20.0 and 3.0.0-M6, which also restrict asynchronous authentication to password and keyboard-interactive methods only.

## Affected products

- Apache MINA SSHD 2.0.0 to 2.19.0, 3.0.0-M1 to 3.0.0-M5

## Timeline

- 2026-09-30: disclosed

## References

- [https://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2](https://repo.maven.apache.org/maven2)
- [https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/t8pn812yq8ndokxyfxztg8tovov1284n](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/t8pn812yq8ndokxyfxztg8tovov1284n)

## Related threats

- [Apache MINA SSHD LDAP injection authentication bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-94053-authentication-bypass-via-ldap-injection-in-component-sshd-ldap)
- [Apache MINA SSHD authentication bypass in LdapPasswordAuthenticator](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-94052-a-missing-check-in-ldappasswordauthenticator-in-component-sshd)
- [Apache MINA SSHD memory exhaustion in SFTP check-file extension](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-94029-server-side-memory-exhaustion-in-apache-mina-sshd-1-0-0-to-2-19-0)
- [Apache MINA SSHD memory exhaustion in SFTP client](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-94002-possible-memory-exhaustion-in-sftp-clients-defaultsftpclient-in)
- [Apache MINA SSHD denial of service via SCP protocol line length](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-93996-uncontrolled-resource-consumption-in-component-ssd-scp-in-apache)