CVE-2022-4768Network attack vector

SSH restriction bypass via public-key newline injection

Published Dec 27, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

SSH public-key injection in Dropbox Merou allows remote authenticated users to bypass authorized_keys command restrictions via a crafted key. The add_public_key function accepts carriage returns or line feeds in public_key_str, so a stored key injects an additional authorized_keys entry. The authenticated web interface is required, and a successful injection turns a command-restricted SSH key into unrestricted SSH access.

CVSS severity6.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.67%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

SSH public-key injection in Dropbox Merou allows remote authenticated users to bypass authorized_keys command restrictions via a crafted key. The add_public_key function accepts carriage returns or line feeds in public_key_str, so a stored key injects an additional authorized_keys entry. The authenticated web interface is required, and a successful injection turns a command-restricted SSH key into unrestricted SSH access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-4768
Published
Dec 27, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Dropbox
Product
Merou
Classifications
CWE-74, T1098.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 27, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Dropbox · Merouversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

6.3VulDBCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
9.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1098.004Account Manipulation: SSH Authorized Keys

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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