8.3
HIGH CVSS 4.0
CVE-2025-15661
libssh2 - Heap Buffer Over-read via sftp_symlink() in sftp.c
Description

libssh2 through 1.11.1, fixed in commit 2dae302, contains an out-of-bounds heap read vulnerability in the sftp_symlink() function in src/sftp.c that allows a malicious SSH server or man-in-the-middle attacker to disclose heap memory contents or cause a crash by sending a crafted SSH_FXP_NAME response. Attackers can supply a link_len value larger than the actual packet data in SSH_FXP_NAME responses for SFTP READLINK and REALPATH operations, triggering a heap buffer over-read of up to target_len minus one bytes due to the missing validation of available packet buffer size before the memcpy operation.

INFO

Published Date :

June 18, 2026, 9:16 p.m.

Last Modified :

July 14, 2026, 11:17 p.m.

Remotely Exploit :

Yes !
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2025-15661 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Libssh2 libssh2
CVSS Scores
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System is a standardized framework for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems. We collect and displays CVSS scores from various sources for each CVE.
Score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Score Impact Score Source
CVSS 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
CVSS 3.1 MEDIUM 83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10
CVSS 3.1 MEDIUM [email protected]
CVSS 3.1 MEDIUM [email protected]
CVSS 4.0 HIGH 83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10
CVSS 4.0 HIGH [email protected]
Solution
Update libssh2 to a patched version to fix heap memory disclosure or crash vulnerabilities.
  • Update to a version of libssh2 with commit 2dae302 applied.
  • Ensure input validation checks packet buffer size before memcpy.
  • Sanitize SFTP server responses.
  • Monitor for unexpected crashes or memory leaks.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2025-15661.

URL Resource
https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2/commit/2dae3024897e1898d389835151f4e9606227721d Patch
https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2/pull/1705 Patch
https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2/pull/1717 Patch
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/libssh2-heap-buffer-over-read-via-sftp-symlink-in-sftp-c Third Party Advisory
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-15661 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2025-15661 weaknesses.

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2025-15661 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

  • The Hacker News
Public PoC Released for Critical libssh2 CVE-2026-55200 Client-Side SSH Flaw

A public proof-of-concept is now out for CVE-2026-55200, a critical flaw in libssh2 that lets a malicious or compromised SSH server trigger memory corruption on a connecting client, with possible code ... Read more

Published Date: Jun 29, 2026 (2 weeks, 1 day ago)

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2025-15661 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    Jul. 14, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Changed Affected [{'repo': 'https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2', 'vendor': 'libssh2', 'product': 'libssh2', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '0', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '1.11.1'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '2dae3024897e1898d389835151f4e9606227721d', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] [{'repo': 'https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2', 'vendor': 'libssh2', 'product': 'libssh2', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '0', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '1.11.1'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '2dae3024897e1898d389835151f4e9606227721d', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'packageURL': 'pkg:github/libssh2/libssh2', 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}]
  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Jun. 26, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:libssh2:libssh2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (including) 1.11.1
    Added Reference Type VulnCheck: https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2/commit/2dae3024897e1898d389835151f4e9606227721d Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type VulnCheck: https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2/pull/1705 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type VulnCheck: https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2/pull/1717 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type VulnCheck: https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/libssh2-heap-buffer-over-read-via-sftp-symlink-in-sftp-c Types: Third Party Advisory
  • CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

    Jun. 22, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2025-15661', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'none'}, {'automatable': 'no'}, {'technicalImpact': 'partial'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-06-22T18:07:05.411976Z'}
  • New CVE Received by [email protected]

    Jun. 18, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Affected [{'repo': 'https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2', 'vendor': 'libssh2', 'product': 'libssh2', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '0', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '1.11.1'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '2dae3024897e1898d389835151f4e9606227721d', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}]
    Added Description libssh2 through 1.11.1, fixed in commit 2dae302, contains an out-of-bounds heap read vulnerability in the sftp_symlink() function in src/sftp.c that allows a malicious SSH server or man-in-the-middle attacker to disclose heap memory contents or cause a crash by sending a crafted SSH_FXP_NAME response. Attackers can supply a link_len value larger than the actual packet data in SSH_FXP_NAME responses for SFTP READLINK and REALPATH operations, triggering a heap buffer over-read of up to target_len minus one bytes due to the missing validation of available packet buffer size before the memcpy operation.
    Added CVSS V4.0 AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
    Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H
    Added CWE CWE-125
    Added Reference https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2/commit/2dae3024897e1898d389835151f4e9606227721d
    Added Reference https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2/pull/1705
    Added Reference https://github.com/libssh2/libssh2/pull/1717
    Added Reference https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/libssh2-heap-buffer-over-read-via-sftp-symlink-in-sftp-c
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.