CVE Database›Document archive›CVE-2021-41617

CVE-2021-41617

openssh: privilege escalation when AuthorizedKeysCommand or AuthorizedPrincipalsCommand are configured

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Severity

Moderate

Red Hat Product Security

7

CVSS 3.1

Review impact separately from score.

Published · September 26, 2021

Updated · May 12, 2026

Description

A flaw was found in OpenSSH. Helper programs for AuthorizedKeysCommand and AuthorizedPrincipalsCommand may run with privileges associated with group memberships of the sshd process, if the configuration specifies running the command as a different user. Depending on system configuration, inherited groups may allow AuthorizedKeysCommand/AuthorizedPrincipalsCommand helper programs to gain unintended privileges, potentially leading to local privilege escalation.

Statement

Neither the AuthorizedKeysCommand directive nor AuthorizedPrincipalsCommand are enabled by default in the versions of OpenSSH as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 and 8.

CVSS score applicability

The CVSS score(s) listed for this vulnerability do not reflect the associated product's status, and are included for informational purposes to better understand the severity of this vulnerability.

Mitigation

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.

CVSS / CWE

CVSS 3.1 · 7
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE-273 · Improper Check for Dropped Privileges