CVE-2020-14145Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Connection-history disclosure via host-key algorithm ordering

Published Jun 29, 2020 · Updated Dec 18, 2025

Information disclosure in the OpenSSH client 5.7 through 8.4 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to identify first-time SSH connections. The client reorders the server_host_key_algorithms list in KEXINIT when a matching host key is cached, exposing that state to an intercepting server. The leak requires a network-positioned attacker and enables selective interception of clients without a cached host key, avoiding warnings shown to returning clients.

CVSS severity5.9
Medium
EPSS probability2.06%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information disclosure in the OpenSSH client 5.7 through 8.4 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to identify first-time SSH connections. The client reorders the server_host_key_algorithms list in KEXINIT when a matching host key is cached, exposing that state to an intercepting server. The leak requires a network-positioned attacker and enables selective interception of clients without a cached host key, avoiding warnings shown to returning clients.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-14145
Published
Jun 29, 2020
Updated
Dec 18, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-203, T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 29, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 18, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.9CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-203Observable Discrepancy
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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