# CVE-2026-93994: Apache MINA SSHD authentication bypass in multi-key validation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-93994-apache-mina-sshd-is-a-java-library-for-client-side-and-server  
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-2026-93994 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.1 · Published 2026-09-30

Apache MINA SSHD is a Java library that provides SSH server and client functionality for secure remote access. When configured to require multiple public keys for authentication, the library fails to validate that the keys are different, allowing an attacker to authenticate with the same key presented twice. This bypasses multi-factor authentication policies and grants unauthorized SSH access.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-93994 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-93994 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-93994?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.1, published 30 September 2026.

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

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-93994?** 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-2026-93994 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-93994?** 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 sshd-core component fails to enforce uniqueness when validating multiple public keys in a multi-authentication scheme, allowing an attacker to present the same key twice to satisfy a two-key authentication requirement. The vulnerability affects versions up to 2.19.0 and 3.0.0-M1 through 3.0.0-M5, and is exploitable over the network during SSH authentication handshake without user interaction beyond normal SSH login. Patched versions 2.20.0 and 3.0.0-M6 resolve the issue.

## Affected products

- Apache MINA SSHD up 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/9t3vsm8rnvwdv9779mlg1lq2fbwojdwp](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/9t3vsm8rnvwdv9779mlg1lq2fbwojdwp)

## 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)