How severe is CVE-2018-20685?

CVE-2018-20685 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.3, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability none.

Is CVE-2018-20685 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (88th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2018-20685?

CVE-2018-20685 primarily affects Openbsd Openssh. In total, 34 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2018-20685?

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

When was CVE-2018-20685 published?

CVE-2018-20685 was published on 2019-01-10 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2018-20685

CVE-2018-20685 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Openbsd Openssh with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.3. 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-863.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.3)
CVSS v2: 2.6
EPSS exploit prediction: 4% (88th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-863
Affected product: Openbsd Openssh
Published: 2019-01-10
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

In OpenSSH 7.9, scp.c in the scp client allows remote SSH servers to bypass intended access restrictions via the filename of . or an empty filename. The impact is modifying the permissions of the target directory on the client side.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2018-20685?: In OpenSSH 7.9, scp.c in the scp client allows remote SSH servers to bypass intended access restrictions via the filename of . or an empty filename. The impact is modifying the permissions of the target directory on the client side.
How severe is CVE-2018-20685?: CVE-2018-20685 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.3, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2018-20685 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (88th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2018-20685?: CVE-2018-20685 primarily affects Openbsd Openssh. In total, 34 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2018-20685?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2018-20685 published?: CVE-2018-20685 was published on 2019-01-10 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (34)

cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:winscp:winscp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:cloud_backup:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:element_software:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:steelstore_cloud_integrated_storage:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:netapp:storage_automation_store:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:oracle:solaris:10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fujitsu:m10-1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fujitsu:m10-4_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fujitsu:m10-4s_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fujitsu:m12-1_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fujitsu:m12-2_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fujitsu:m12-2s_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:siemens:scalance_x204rna_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:siemens:scalance_x204rna_eec_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Openbsd Openssh

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Other CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization) vulnerabilities

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CVE-2026-44330 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): free5GC is an open-source implementation of the 5G core network. Prior to 4.2.2, free5GC's NEF mounts the…
CVE-2026-46595 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Previously, CVE-2024-45337 fixed an authorization bypass for misused ssh server configurations; if any other type of…
CVE-2026-33105 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper authorization in Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges over…
CVE-2026-32213 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper authorization in Azure AI Foundry allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.

Browse all CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization) vulnerabilities →

Threat intelligence

Threat-intel indicators referencing this CVE:

14.18.122.98 (ipv4-addr)
124.223.78.215 (ipv4-addr)
120.48.123.76 (ipv4-addr)
60.12.249.51 (ipv4-addr)
122.114.69.235 (ipv4-addr)
113.0.152.164 (ipv4-addr)
45.84.120.3 (ipv4-addr)
92.47.46.174 (ipv4-addr)