Hackers Target OpenSSH SSHole Flaw Within Hours of Disclosure, Gain Root on Honeypot
MentionsOpenSSH
Threat actors are attempting to exploit a recently disclosed security flaw impacting OpenSSH that can enable sign-ins to accounts that have no password set, according to Previdian. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-123158 (CVSS score: 8.1) and codenamed SSHole (or *sshole), impacts Linux systems that run OpenSSH on the musl C library with Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM) disabled,
Summary from The Hacker News.
Explained
The technology and terms in this story. Learn more
- TechnologyOpenSSHThe most widely used SSH implementation, shipped with Linux, macOS and Windows.
- ConceptCVSS · Common Vulnerability Scoring SystemA 0–10 score for how severe a vulnerability is in theory.
- ConceptExploitCode or a technique that turns a software flaw into something an attacker can actually use.
- ConceptCVE · Common Vulnerabilities and ExposuresThe public ID system for vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2026-12345, so everyone means the same bug.
Why it was possible
The weaknesses behind this story's CVEs, from each CVE Record.
Vulnerabilities in this story
Severity and exploitation facts from NVD, FIRST, and CISA.
Related coverage
Other sources covering the same vulnerabilities or event.
SANS Stormcast Friday, November 6th, 2026: RootEvidence Cisco IOS Opt-Out Scans; OpenSSH musl sshhole (CVE-2026-123158); Refrigeration OT Hardening; Zyxel GS1900 OOB Write (CVE-2026-107441)
Podcast8 minSANS Internet Storm Center StormCast15h agoVulnerabilitiesIdentityEndpointCVE-2026-107441CVE-2026-123158
