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CVE-2021-41617

HIGH 7 ALL-YEARS

Published 2021-09-26 · Last modified 2026-10-14 · mitre · NVD: Modified

sshd in OpenSSH 6.2 through 8.x before 8.8, when certain non-default configurations are used, allows privilege escalation because supplemental groups are not initialized as expected. Helper programs for AuthorizedKeysCommand and AuthorizedPrincipalsCommand may run with privileges associated with group memberships of the sshd process, if the configuration specifies running the command as a different user.

ELEVATED IMPACT

Severe if exploited (CVSS 7), but no confirmed exploitation. Patch on a normal cadence.

Exploitation likelihood

2.5%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 85th percentile

○ In CISA KEV○ Catalogued PoC◆ SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no

Impact if exploited

7CVSS 3.1 · HIGH · NVD

  • ConfidentialityHigh
  • IntegrityHigh
  • AvailabilityHigh

What an attacker needs

  • ⚠Access: Requires local access to the host
  • ⚠Privileges: Requires a low-privilege account
  • ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
  • ⚠Complexity: Needs a race window or specific setup

✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it

Proof of concept

No public PoC is currently catalogued.

Search for new PoCs

Search GitHub now — results may be empty or unverified.

Tracked sources are checked weekly for the full archive, including PoCs published after the original disclosure. A later release appears after a tracked source lists it and a refresh succeeds.

Affected

Vendors Siemens Openbsd Fedoraproject Netapp Oracle Starwindsoftware

Products Simatic S7 1500 Cpu 1518 4 Pn/Dp Mfp Simatic S7 1500 Cpu 1518f 4 Pn/Dp Mfp Siplus S7 1500 Cpu 1518 4 Pn/Dp Mfp Openssh Fedora Active Iq Unified Manager Clustered Data Ontap Hci Management Node Ontap Select Deploy Administration Utility Solidfire Aff A250 Firmware Aff A250 Aff 500f Firmware Aff 500f Http Server Zfs Storage Appliance Kit Starwind Virtual San

Weakness (CWE)

Not classified.

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

References and research data (JSON)

Vendor product assessments

Showing 32 of 481 vendor product statements; 449 omitted. Read the full vendor advisory.

  • openssh-0:7.4p1-22.el7_9.ppc64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=ppc64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-keycat-0:7.4p1-22.el7_9.x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=x86_64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-askpass-0:7.4p1-22.el7_9.x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=x86_64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-server-0:7.4p1-22.el7_9.x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=x86_64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-clients-0:7.4p1-22.el7_9.x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=x86_64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • pam_ssh_agent_auth-0:0.10.3-2.22.el7_9.ppc64le as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=ppc64le

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-debuginfo-0:7.4p1-22.el7_9.x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=x86_64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-0:7.4p1-22.el7_9.x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=x86_64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-ldap-0:7.4p1-22.el7_9.x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=x86_64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-cavs-0:7.4p1-22.el7_9.x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=x86_64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-server-sysvinit-0:7.4p1-22.el7_9.x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=x86_64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-debuginfo-0:7.4p1-22.el7_9.ppc64le as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]_9?arch=ppc64le

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-0:8.0p1-13.el8.aarch64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]?arch=aarch64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-clients-debuginfo-0:8.0p1-13.el8.s390x as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]?arch=s390x

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-server-0:8.0p1-13.el8.s390x as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]?arch=s390x

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-cavs-0:8.0p1-13.el8.aarch64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]?arch=aarch64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-keycat-debuginfo-0:8.0p1-13.el8.aarch64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]?arch=aarch64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • pam_ssh_agent_auth-debuginfo-0:0.10.3-7.13.el8.x86_64 as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) · fixed

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/[email protected]?arch=x86_64

    • vendor fix: For details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258 After installing this update, the OpenSSH server daemon (sshd) will be restarted automatically. Vendor guidance
    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh

    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    • no fix planned: Out of support scope
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-askpass as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh-askpass

    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    • no fix planned: Out of support scope
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-clients as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh-clients

    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    • no fix planned: Out of support scope
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-ldap as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh-ldap

    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    • no fix planned: Out of support scope
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-server as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh-server

    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    • no fix planned: Out of support scope
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh?arch=src

    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    • no fix planned: Out of support scope
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • pam_ssh_agent_auth as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 · known affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    pkg:rpm/redhat/pam_ssh_agent_auth

    • workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
    • no fix planned: Out of support scope
    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh

    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-askpass as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh-askpass

    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-clients as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh-clients

    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-keycat as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh-keycat

    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh-server as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh-server

    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • openssh.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/openssh?arch=src

    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00
  • pam_ssh_agent_auth as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · known not affected

    Vendor assessment for this product only.

    Reason: vulnerable code not present

    pkg:rpm/redhat/pam_ssh_agent_auth

    Red Hat · CVE-2021-41617 · Updated 2026-05-12T10:23:02+00:00

Unverified PoC candidates

Catalogue matches for further research. These repositories have not been validated as working exploits.

1 candidate

Known Affected Software Configurations

VendorProductVersion range
OpenbsdOpenssh≥ 6.2 and < 8.8
FedoraprojectFedora33
FedoraprojectFedora34
FedoraprojectFedora35
NetappActive Iq Unified Manager*
NetappClustered Data Ontap*
NetappHci Management Node*
NetappOntap Select Deploy Administration Utility*
NetappSolidfire*
NetappAff A250 Firmware*
NetappAff 500f Firmware*
OracleHttp Server12.2.1.2.0
OracleHttp Server12.2.1.3.0
OracleHttp Server12.2.1.4.0
OracleZfs Storage Appliance Kit8.8
StarwindsoftwareStarwind Virtual Sanv8r13

All CVSS metrics

  • HIGH 7 v3.1 · NVD Primary
    CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • MEDIUM 4.4 v2.0 · NVD Primary
    AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

References

Patches & mitigations

Advisories

Technical & other

Sources: NVD · CVE.org · All sources and attribution · EPSS