How severe is CVE-2005-2666?

CVE-2005-2666 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 1.2, rated low severity.

Is CVE-2005-2666 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (64th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2005-2666?

CVE-2005-2666 primarily affects Openbsd Openssh. In total, 30 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2005-2666?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2005-2666 published?

CVE-2005-2666 was published on 2005-08-23 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2005-2666

CVE-2005-2666 is a low-severity vulnerability in Openbsd Openssh with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 1.2. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-255.

Key facts

Severity: Low (CVSS 2.0 base score 1.2)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (64th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-255
Affected product: Openbsd Openssh
Published: 2005-08-23
Last modified: 2026-06-16

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2005-2666?: 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.
How severe is CVE-2005-2666?: CVE-2005-2666 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 1.2, rated low severity.
Is CVE-2005-2666 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (64th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2005-2666?: CVE-2005-2666 primarily affects Openbsd Openssh. In total, 30 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2005-2666?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2005-2666 published?: CVE-2005-2666 was published on 2005-08-23 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (30)

cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.0.1p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.0.2p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.0p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.1p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.2.2p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.2.3p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.3p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.4p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.5p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.6.1p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.6.1p2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.7.1p2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.8.1p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:3.9.1p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Openbsd Openssh

CVE-2003-0786 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The SSH1 PAM challenge response authentication in OpenSSH 3.7.1 and 3.7.1p1, when Privilege Separation is disabled,…
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CVE-2002-0640 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Buffer overflow in sshd in OpenSSH 2.3.1 through 3.3 may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a large…
CVE-2001-0144 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): CORE SDI SSH1 CRC-32 compensation attack detector allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on an SSH…
CVE-2000-0999 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Format string vulnerabilities in OpenBSD ssh program (and possibly other BSD-based operating systems) allow attackers…
CVE-2000-0525 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): OpenSSH does not properly drop privileges when the UseLogin option is enabled, which allows local users to execute…

All CVEs affecting Openbsd Openssh →

Other CWE-255 (Credentials Management Errors) vulnerabilities

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CVE-2015-7906 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): LOYTEC LIP-3ECTB 6.0.1, LINX-100, LVIS-3E100, and LIP-ME201 devices allow remote attackers to read a password-hash…
CVE-2015-7856 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): OpenNMS has a default password of rtc for the rtc account, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access…
CVE-2014-9736 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): GE Healthcare Centricity Clinical Archive Audit Trail Repository has a default password of initinit for the (1) SSL key…
CVE-2014-7233 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): GE Healthcare Precision THUNIS-800+ has a default password of (1) 1973 for the factory default System Utilities menu,…
CVE-2014-7232 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): GE Healthcare Discovery XR656 and XR656 G2 has a password of (1) 2getin for the insite user, (2) 4$xray for the xruser…

Browse all CWE-255 (Credentials Management Errors) vulnerabilities →

Threat intelligence

Threat-intel indicators referencing this CVE:

112.31.93.229 (ipv4-addr)
61.191.145.123 (ipv4-addr)
14.243.169.55 (ipv4-addr)
112.31.167.120 (ipv4-addr)