# CVE-2026-94053: Apache MINA SSHD: LDAP injection in sshd-ldap

> Attackers can bypass authentication in Apache MINA SSHD servers using LDAP injection if the optional sshd-ldap component is configured.

- **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-2026-94053, GHSA-qrc3-w53g-j8gv, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-94053

## What is CVE-2026-94053?

CVE-2026-94053 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 via LDAP injection in component sshd-ldap in Apache MINA SSHD versions 1.2.0 to 2.19.0 and 3.0.0-M1 to 3.0.0-M5.

Apache MINA SSHD is a Java library for client-side and server-side SSH. 
The optional sshd-ldap component provides support for integrating 
password and publickey authentication on the server side with an LDAP 
server.

sshd-ldap is an optional component. SSH servers implemented with Apache 
MINA SSHD are affected only if they use sshd-ldap and do configure it to be used for password of public key authentication.

Other Apache MINA SSHD servers are not affected.

Lack of escaping LDAP filter metacharacters enabled successful authentication with username "*" and password "*".

Users are recommended to upgrade affected applications to version 2.20.0 or 3.0.0-M6, which fix this issue by properly escaping filter parameters according to RFC 4515.

Weakness: CWE-90 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an LDAP Query), CWE-305 (Authentication Bypass by Primary Weakness)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-94053?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-94053?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2026-94053 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-94053 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-94053 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-94053 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-2026-94053 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-2026-94053/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-94053/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-94053
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-94053
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-94053

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-94053/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.