5.3
MEDIUM CVSS 4.0
CVE-2026-54886
SSH SFTP server denial of service via extended channel data infinite loop
Description

Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop') vulnerability in Erlang OTP ssh (ssh_sftpd module) allows an authenticated SFTP user to render an SFTP channel permanently unresponsive. The handle_data/4 function in ssh_sftpd contains a catch-all clause that accepts channel data of any type. When channel data with a non-zero type code (SSH_MSG_CHANNEL_EXTENDED_DATA) arrives with an empty pending buffer and a payload at or below the SFTP packet size limit, the clause tail-calls itself with identical arguments, creating an infinite loop. The SFTP protocol operates exclusively on normal channel data (type 0). Extended data (non-zero type) is meaningless for SFTP and is never sent by conforming clients. However, the SSH protocol permits any channel participant to send extended data on an open channel, so an authenticated SFTP client can trigger the loop by sending SSH_MSG_CHANNEL_EXTENDED_DATA with any data_type_code and any non-empty payload at or below the size limit. The targeted ssh_sftpd process enters an infinite tail-recursive loop. It never processes another message, its message queue grows without bound, and it can only be stopped by killing the process. BEAM's reduction-based scheduler preemption continues to function, so other processes on the node are not starved, but each stuck channel process consumes its full CPU time share continuously and accumulates unbounded message queue memory. Opening many channels amplifies the CPU and memory impact. Erlang/OTP SSH configurations using the default max_channels setting (infinity) allow an authenticated user to open unlimited channels per connection, amplifying the attack without requiring multiple TCP connections or authentications. No file contents, credentials, or write access are obtainable through this issue. The impact is limited to denial of service on targeted SFTP channels, with secondary CPU degradation and memory growth. This vulnerability is associated with program file lib/ssh/src/ssh_sftpd.erl and program routine ssh_sftpd:handle_data/4. This issue affects OTP from OTP 17.0 before OTP 29.0.3, OTP 28.5.0.3 and OTP 27.3.4.14, corresponding to ssh from 3.0.1 before 6.0.2, 5.5.2.2 and 5.2.11.9.

INFO

Published Date :

July 2, 2026, 5:17 p.m.

Last Modified :

July 24, 2026, 3:18 p.m.

Remotely Exploit :

Yes !

Source :

6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2026-54886 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 Erlang erlang\/otp
2 Erlang otp
3 Erlang erlang\/ssh
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 [email protected]
CVSS 4.0 MEDIUM 6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db
CVSS 4.0 MEDIUM 6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db
Solution
Update Erlang/OTP SSH to a patched version to prevent denial of service attacks.
  • Update Erlang/OTP to a version with the fix.
  • Apply vendor patches for the ssh_sftpd module.
  • Limit the number of SFTP channels per connection.
  • Monitor SFTP channel activity for anomalies.
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-2026-54886.

URL Resource
https://cna.erlef.org/cves/CVE-2026-54886.html Mitigation Vendor Advisory
https://github.com/erlang/otp/commit/eaf9550b8ad4738b81149d3f617102d980c6dd18 Patch
https://github.com/erlang/otp/security/advisories/GHSA-7wp4-pc27-2vj9 Mitigation Vendor Advisory
https://osv.dev/vulnerability/EEF-CVE-2026-54886 Mitigation Third Party Advisory
https://www.erlang.org/doc/system/versions.html#order-of-versions Release Notes
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-54886 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-2026-54886 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-2026-54886 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2026-54886 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 6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db

    Jul. 24, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Changed Description Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop') vulnerability in Erlang OTP ssh (ssh_sftpd module) allows an authenticated SFTP user to render an SFTP channel permanently unresponsive. The handle_data/4 function in ssh_sftpd contains a catch-all clause that accepts channel data of any type. When channel data with a non-zero type code (SSH_MSG_CHANNEL_EXTENDED_DATA) arrives with an empty pending buffer and a payload at or below the SFTP packet size limit, the clause tail-calls itself with identical arguments, creating an infinite loop. The SFTP protocol operates exclusively on normal channel data (type 0). Extended data (non-zero type) is meaningless for SFTP and is never sent by conforming clients. However, the SSH protocol permits any channel participant to send extended data on an open channel, so an authenticated SFTP client can trigger the loop by sending SSH_MSG_CHANNEL_EXTENDED_DATA with any data_type_code and any non-empty payload at or below the size limit. The targeted ssh_sftpd process enters an infinite tail-recursive loop. It never processes another message, its message queue grows without bound, and it can only be stopped by killing the process. BEAM's reduction-based scheduler preemption continues to function, so other processes on the node are not starved, but each stuck channel process consumes its full CPU time share continuously and accumulates unbounded message queue memory. Opening many channels amplifies the CPU and memory impact. Erlang/OTP SSH configurations using the default max_channels setting (infinity) allow an authenticated user to open unlimited channels per connection, amplifying the attack without requiring multiple TCP connections or authentications. No file contents, credentials, or write access are obtainable through this issue. The impact is limited to denial of service on targeted SFTP channels, with secondary CPU degradation and memory growth. This vulnerability is associated with program file lib/ssh/src/ssh_sftpd.erl and program routine ssh_sftpd:handle_data/4. This issue affects OTP from OTP 17.0 until OTP 29.0.3, 28.5.0.3, and 27.3.4.14 corresponding to ssh from 3.0.1 until 6.0.2, 5.5.2.2, and 5.2.11.9. Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop') vulnerability in Erlang OTP ssh (ssh_sftpd module) allows an authenticated SFTP user to render an SFTP channel permanently unresponsive. The handle_data/4 function in ssh_sftpd contains a catch-all clause that accepts channel data of any type. When channel data with a non-zero type code (SSH_MSG_CHANNEL_EXTENDED_DATA) arrives with an empty pending buffer and a payload at or below the SFTP packet size limit, the clause tail-calls itself with identical arguments, creating an infinite loop. The SFTP protocol operates exclusively on normal channel data (type 0). Extended data (non-zero type) is meaningless for SFTP and is never sent by conforming clients. However, the SSH protocol permits any channel participant to send extended data on an open channel, so an authenticated SFTP client can trigger the loop by sending SSH_MSG_CHANNEL_EXTENDED_DATA with any data_type_code and any non-empty payload at or below the size limit. The targeted ssh_sftpd process enters an infinite tail-recursive loop. It never processes another message, its message queue grows without bound, and it can only be stopped by killing the process. BEAM's reduction-based scheduler preemption continues to function, so other processes on the node are not starved, but each stuck channel process consumes its full CPU time share continuously and accumulates unbounded message queue memory. Opening many channels amplifies the CPU and memory impact. Erlang/OTP SSH configurations using the default max_channels setting (infinity) allow an authenticated user to open unlimited channels per connection, amplifying the attack without requiring multiple TCP connections or authentications. No file contents, credentials, or write access are obtainable through this issue. The impact is limited to denial of service on targeted SFTP channels, with secondary CPU degradation and memory growth. This vulnerability is associated with program file lib/ssh/src/ssh_sftpd.erl and program routine ssh_sftpd:handle_data/4. This issue affects OTP from OTP 17.0 before OTP 29.0.3, OTP 28.5.0.3 and OTP 27.3.4.14, corresponding to ssh from 3.0.1 before 6.0.2, 5.5.2.2 and 5.2.11.9.
  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Jul. 07, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang/otp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 17.0 up to (excluding) 27.3.4.14 *cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang/otp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 28.0 up to (excluding) 28.5.0.3 *cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang/otp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 29.0 up to (excluding) 29.0.3 *cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang/ssh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 3.0.1 up to (excluding) 5.2.11.9 *cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang/ssh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 5.3 up to (excluding) 5.5.2.2 *cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang/ssh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.0 up to (excluding) 6.0.2
    Added Reference Type EEF: https://cna.erlef.org/cves/CVE-2026-54886.html Types: Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
    Added Reference Type EEF: https://github.com/erlang/otp/commit/eaf9550b8ad4738b81149d3f617102d980c6dd18 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type EEF: https://github.com/erlang/otp/security/advisories/GHSA-7wp4-pc27-2vj9 Types: Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
    Added Reference Type EEF: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/EEF-CVE-2026-54886 Types: Mitigation, Third Party Advisory
    Added Reference Type EEF: https://www.erlang.org/doc/system/versions.html#order-of-versions Types: Release Notes
  • CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

    Jul. 02, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2026-54886', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'none'}, {'automatable': 'no'}, {'technicalImpact': 'partial'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-07-02T17:27:25.414155Z'}
  • New CVE Received by 6b3ad84c-e1a6-4bf7-a703-f496b71e49db

    Jul. 02, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Affected [{'cpes': ['cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang\\/otp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*'], 'repo': 'https://github.com/erlang/otp', 'vendor': 'Erlang', 'modules': ['ssh_sftpd'], 'product': 'OTP', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'changes': [{'at': '6.0.2', 'status': 'unaffected'}, {'at': '5.5.2.2', 'status': 'unaffected'}, {'at': '5.2.11.9', 'status': 'unaffected'}], 'version': '3.0.1', 'lessThan': '*', 'versionType': 'otp'}], 'packageURL': 'pkg:otp/ssh?repository_url=https:%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Ferlang%2Fotp&vcs_url=git%20https:%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Ferlang%2Fotp.git', 'packageName': 'ssh', 'programFiles': ['src/ssh_sftpd.erl'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected', 'programRoutines': [{'name': 'ssh_sftpd:handle_data/4'}]}, {'cpes': ['cpe:2.3:a:erlang:erlang\\/otp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*'], 'repo': 'https://github.com/erlang/otp', 'vendor': 'Erlang', 'modules': ['ssh_sftpd'], 'product': 'OTP', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'changes': [{'at': '29.0.3', 'status': 'unaffected'}, {'at': '28.5.0.3', 'status': 'unaffected'}, {'at': '27.3.4.14', 'status': 'unaffected'}], 'version': '17.0', 'lessThan': '*', 'versionType': 'otp'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '84adefa3318eef8631bf25cd233246a86eea18cd', 'lessThan': 'eaf9550b8ad4738b81149d3f617102d980c6dd18', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'packageURL': 'pkg:github/erlang/otp', 'packageName': 'erlang/otp', 'programFiles': ['lib/ssh/src/ssh_sftpd.erl'], 'collectionURL': 'https://github.com', 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected', 'programRoutines': [{'name': 'ssh_sftpd:handle_data/4'}]}]
    Added Description Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop') vulnerability in Erlang OTP ssh (ssh_sftpd module) allows an authenticated SFTP user to render an SFTP channel permanently unresponsive. The handle_data/4 function in ssh_sftpd contains a catch-all clause that accepts channel data of any type. When channel data with a non-zero type code (SSH_MSG_CHANNEL_EXTENDED_DATA) arrives with an empty pending buffer and a payload at or below the SFTP packet size limit, the clause tail-calls itself with identical arguments, creating an infinite loop. The SFTP protocol operates exclusively on normal channel data (type 0). Extended data (non-zero type) is meaningless for SFTP and is never sent by conforming clients. However, the SSH protocol permits any channel participant to send extended data on an open channel, so an authenticated SFTP client can trigger the loop by sending SSH_MSG_CHANNEL_EXTENDED_DATA with any data_type_code and any non-empty payload at or below the size limit. The targeted ssh_sftpd process enters an infinite tail-recursive loop. It never processes another message, its message queue grows without bound, and it can only be stopped by killing the process. BEAM's reduction-based scheduler preemption continues to function, so other processes on the node are not starved, but each stuck channel process consumes its full CPU time share continuously and accumulates unbounded message queue memory. Opening many channels amplifies the CPU and memory impact. Erlang/OTP SSH configurations using the default max_channels setting (infinity) allow an authenticated user to open unlimited channels per connection, amplifying the attack without requiring multiple TCP connections or authentications. No file contents, credentials, or write access are obtainable through this issue. The impact is limited to denial of service on targeted SFTP channels, with secondary CPU degradation and memory growth. This vulnerability is associated with program file lib/ssh/src/ssh_sftpd.erl and program routine ssh_sftpd:handle_data/4. This issue affects OTP from OTP 17.0 until OTP 29.0.3, 28.5.0.3, and 27.3.4.14 corresponding to ssh from 3.0.1 until 6.0.2, 5.5.2.2, and 5.2.11.9.
    Added CVSS V4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/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 CWE CWE-400
    Added CWE CWE-835
    Added Reference https://cna.erlef.org/cves/CVE-2026-54886.html
    Added Reference https://github.com/erlang/otp/commit/eaf9550b8ad4738b81149d3f617102d980c6dd18
    Added Reference https://github.com/erlang/otp/security/advisories/GHSA-7wp4-pc27-2vj9
    Added Reference https://osv.dev/vulnerability/EEF-CVE-2026-54886
    Added Reference https://www.erlang.org/doc/system/versions.html#order-of-versions
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.