Description
Improper certificate validation in Apache MINA SSHD (server-side). Apache MINA SSHD is a Java library for client-side and server-side SSH.




Server-side OpenSSH user certificate validation during user authentication in an Apache MINA SSHD server did not check for the unsupported force-command or verify-required options that could be embedded in the certificate, nor did it validate these options. As a result it was possible that a user could authenticate with such a certificate that included a force-command option but still was able to execute other commands. What other command exactly would be available to the user depends on the implementation of the server.




This issue is fixed in Apache MINA SSHD 2.19.0 and 3.0.0-M5. Applications are advised to upgrade to these versions.




The fix rejects OpenSSH user certificates that include these options, since Apache MINA SSHD implements neither force-command nor sk-*-cert-v01@openssh.com user certificates (which are the only ones for which verify-required would make sense).
Published: 2026-07-20
Score: 7.3 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability stems from Apache MINA SSHD failing to reject OpenSSH user certificates that include unsupported force-command or verify-required options during authentication. A valid, signature‑verified certificate containing such options can be used to authenticate and potentially execute commands that bypass intended restrictions. This weakness is a form of improper certificate validation.

Affected Systems

All installations of Apache MINA SSHD older than version 2.19.0 or 3.0.0-M5 that support certificate based authentication are affected. Certificates with embedded unsupported options are accepted until the issue is fixed.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.3 rates the flaw as high severity. The EPSS score is less than 1%, indicating low likelihood of exploitation in the current environment, and the vulnerability is not listed in CISA’s KEV catalog. Exploitation requires an attacker to produce a signed certificate containing the unsupported options, which is then accepted by the server during the SSH login phase, allowing the attacker to run commands with the user’s privileges.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on July 30, 2026 at 18:28 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Upgrade Apache MINA SSHD to version 2.19.0 or newer, where certificates containing unsupported options are explicitly rejected.
  • Disable certificate based authentication if it is not required, or configure the server to enforce strict validation of certificate options.
  • Audit all existing user certificates and reissue or remove any that contain force-command or verify-required options, ensuring that only supported options are present.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on July 30, 2026 at 18:28 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Apache
Apache mina Sshd
Vendors & Products Apache
Apache mina Sshd

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Improper certificate validation in Apache MINA SSHD (server-side). Apache MINA SSHD is a Java library for client-side and server-side SSH. Server-side OpenSSH user certificate validation during user authentication in an Apache MINA SSHD server did not check for the unsupported force-command or verify-required options that could be embedded in the certificate, nor did it validate these options. As a result it was possible that a user could authenticate with such a certificate that included a force-command option but still was able to execute other commands. What other command exactly would be available to the user depends on the implementation of the server. This issue is fixed in Apache MINA SSHD 2.19.0 and 3.0.0-M5. Applications are advised to upgrade to these versions. The fix rejects OpenSSH user certificates that include these options, since Apache MINA SSHD implements neither force-command nor sk-*-cert-v01@openssh.com user certificates (which are the only ones for which verify-required would make sense).
Title Apache MINA SSHD: SSH certificate options lack validations
Weaknesses CWE-295
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

Subscriptions

Apache Mina Sshd
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: apache

Published:

Updated: 2026-07-23T03:56:23.660Z

Reserved: 2026-06-22T15:05:27.038Z

Link: CVE-2026-56624

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-07-20T22:20:01.873Z

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-07-30T18:30:05Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-295

    Improper Certificate Validation