# CVE-2026-77185: Apache MINA SSHD: Asynchronous authentication can bypass signature verification

> Attackers can bypass signature verification in SSH authentication if the server uses the flawed asynchronous authentication feature.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 30 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 30 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2026-77185, GHSA-v223-2p4c-wp64, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-77185

## What is CVE-2026-77185?

CVE-2026-77185 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Apache MINA SSHD, published on 30 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Authentication bypass in sshd-core in Apache MINA SSHD versions 2.0.0 to 2.19.0 and 3.0.0-M1 to 3.0.0-M5 for a certain (presumed rare) way to implement an SSH server.

Apache MINA SSHD is a Java library for client- and server-side SSH. In the server part of the library, a mechanism to perform "asynchronous authentication" exists. A server implemented with Apache MINA SSHD must contain explicit code to make use of this feature. The implementation of this feature was flawed and could potentially lead to skipping checking the signature in public-key or hostbased authentication, or returning a wrong result.

Users are recommended to upgrade to Apache MINA SSHD 2.20.0 or 3.0.0-M6, which fix the logic error and which additionally forbid the use of this "asynchronous authentication" mechanism with the public-key or hostbased authentication schemes: if used, the SSH session will be closed and the server will log an entry indicating that asynchronous authentication may be used only with password or keyboard-interactive authentication.

Weakness: CWE-305 (Authentication Bypass by Primary Weakness)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-77185?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-77185?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2026-77185 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-77185 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-77185 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-77185 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Apache MINA SSHD, published on 30 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-77185 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apache MINA SSHD. 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-2026-77185/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-77185/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-77185
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-77185
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-77185

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-77185/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.