CVE-2025-15079 libssh global known_hosts override
libcurl may bypass host key verification by accepting hosts from the global known_hosts file instead of the specified one during SSH transfers.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-15079?
CVE-2025-15079 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Haxx Curl, published on 8 Jan 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
When doing SSH-based transfers using either SCP or SFTP, and setting the known_hosts file, libcurl could still mistakenly accept connecting to hosts *not present* in the specified file if they were added as recognized in the libssh *global* known_hosts file.
Weakness: CWE-297
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-15079?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Haxx Curl.
How do I fix CVE-2025-15079?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Is CVE-2025-15079 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-15079 exists.
Other vulnerabilities in Haxx Curl
Sources
Also known as CLSA-2026-1771501223, CLSA-2026-1771501913, CURL-CVE-2025-15079, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-15079, ECHO-77ba-e0af-7bbd, GHSA-7q9p-cx8r-rh2q and 5 more.