# CVE-2005-2666: Information disclosure in n/a

> Attackers with local access can read plaintext SSH known_hosts files to identify potential targets for further attacks.

- **Severity:** Low 1.2 (`AV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 23 Aug 2005
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2005-2666, GHSA-rfm3-rfv4-crj6, RHSA-2007:0257

## What is CVE-2005-2666?

CVE-2005-2666 is a low-severity vulnerability in OpenSSH, published on 23 Aug 2005. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

SSH, as implemented in OpenSSH before 4.0 and possibly other implementations, stores hostnames, IP addresses, and keys in plaintext in the known_hosts file, which makes it easier for an attacker that has compromised an SSH user's account to generate a list of additional targets that are more likely to have the same password or key.

Weakness: CWE-255

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2005-2666?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `openssh` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-askpass` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-askpass-gnome` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-clients` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-server` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-askpass` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-askpass-gnome` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-clients` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-server` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-askpass` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-askpass-gnome` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-clients` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-server` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-askpass` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-askpass-gnome` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-clients` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |
| `openssh-server` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:3.9p1-8.RHEL4.20 |

Products: OpenSSH.

## How do I fix CVE-2005-2666?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2005-2666 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2005-2666 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in OpenSSH

- [CVE-2003-0786](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0786/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2003-0693](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0693/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2002-0640](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-0640/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2001-0144](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0144/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2000-0999](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2000-0999/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2005-2666 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2005-2666 is a low-severity vulnerability in OpenSSH, published on 23 Aug 2005. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2005-2666 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: OpenSSH. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-2666/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-2666/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2005-2666
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2005-2666
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2005-2666

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-2666/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.