SSH session interception via shared host keys
Published Jan 13, 2026 · Updated Jan 13, 2026
Hard-coded SSH host keys in Vanilla OS 2 Core image 1.1.0 allow remote attackers to impersonate SSH servers and intercept connections. The core-image embeds the same private keys under /etc/ssh in every installation instead of generating unique host keys. Exploitation requires SSH to be enabled, an attacker able to interpose on a user's connection, and the user to initiate that connection; successful spoofing exposes session data and commands to interception or modification.
Summary
What happened
Hard-coded SSH host keys in Vanilla OS 2 Core image 1.1.0 allow remote attackers to impersonate SSH servers and intercept connections. The core-image embeds the same private keys under /etc/ssh in every installation instead of generating unique host keys. Exploitation requires SSH to be enabled, an attacker able to interpose on a user's connection, and the user to initiate that connection; successful spoofing exposes session data and commands to interception or modification.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-54855
- Published
- Jan 13, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 13, 2026
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-321, T1557
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 13, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
- Published static SSH host key and MITM procedureproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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