SSH 3.0.0 on Unix Password Authentication privileges management
| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 7.6 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in SSH 3.0.0 on Unix. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component Password Authentication. Executing a manipulation can lead to privileges management. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2001-0553. Furthermore, there is an exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.
Details
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in SSH 3.0.0 on Unix (SSH Server Software). This vulnerability affects an unknown function of the component Password Authentication. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:
SSH Secure Shell 3.0.0 on Unix systems does not properly perform password authentication to the sshd2 daemon, which allows local users to gain access to accounts with short password fields, such as locked accounts that use "NP" in the password field.
The weakness was shared 07/20/2001 as confirmed advisory (CERT.org). The advisory is shared for download at kb.cert.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2001-0553. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068.
A public exploit has been developed in Perl and been published immediately after the advisory. It is possible to download the exploit at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 10708 (SSH 3.0.0 Locked Account Remote Authentication Bypass), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Misc. and running in the context r. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 38068 (SSH Short Password Login Vulnerability).
Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.
The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (6868), Exploit-DB (21021), Tenable (10708), SecurityFocus (BID 3078†) and OSVDB (586†). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Product
Type
Name
Version
License
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.4VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
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| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Privileges managementCWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No
Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Programming Language: 🔍
Download: 🔍
EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Nessus ID: 10708
Nessus Name: SSH 3.0.0 Locked Account Remote Authentication Bypass
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍
Exploit-DB: 🔍
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍
Timeline
07/20/2001 🔍07/20/2001 🔍
07/21/2001 🔍
07/21/2001 🔍
08/14/2001 🔍
08/14/2001 🔍
09/12/2002 🔍
09/01/2003 🔍
07/07/2014 🔍
10/05/2025 🔍
Sources
Advisory: kb.cert.orgStatus: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍
CVE: CVE-2001-0553 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2001-0553
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-17164
CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 6868
SecurityFocus: 3078 - SSH Short Password Login Vulnerability
OSVDB: 586 - SSH Locked Account Remote Authentication Bypass
Vulnerability Center: 1872 - SSH Secure Shell 3.0.0 Weak Authentication, High
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
Entry
Created: 07/08/2014 00:26Updated: 10/05/2025 19:40
Changes: 07/08/2014 00:26 (73), 05/12/2019 09:38 (3), 12/15/2024 01:54 (17), 01/21/2025 12:20 (1), 10/05/2025 19:40 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
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