Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This vulnerability affects the Node.js ssh2 library before 1.4.0, only on Windows. If an application passes untrusted user input into the vulnerable library method, an attacker may cause command execution. The business risk is highest for Windows-hosted services that expose SSH-related functionality to external users.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for externally reachable Windows Node.js services using ssh2 before 1.4.0. The vulnerability can lead to remote code execution in qualifying applications, but the provided evidence indicates conditional exposure and does not support claims of active exploitation.
Technical view
CVE-2020-26301 is CWE-78 command injection in mscdex/ssh2 before 1.4.0. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.5 with network reachability, high attack complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, changed scope, high confidentiality impact, and low integrity impact. The issue is fixed in ssh2 1.4.0.
Likely exposure
Likely exposure is limited to Node.js applications using ssh2 versions below 1.4.0 on Windows, especially where application code passes untrusted input into the vulnerable method. Non-Windows deployments are not described as affected in the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation is conditional: the vulnerable library must run on Windows and the application must call the affected method with untrusted input. The attack complexity is rated high.
Researcher notes
The provided evidence identifies product, version range, Windows-only scope, CWE, CVSS, and fix version. It does not include enough detail here to name the exact vulnerable method safely. Validate exposure by dependency version, operating system, and whether untrusted input reaches ssh2 library calls.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade mscdex/ssh2 to version 1.4.0 or later.
- Inventory Windows-hosted Node.js services using ssh2.
- Check lockfiles for direct or transitive ssh2 versions below 1.4.0.
- Prevent untrusted input from reaching affected ssh2 methods until upgraded.
- Review vendor advisory, commit, and npm package for current guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inspect package manifests and lockfiles for ssh2 versions below 1.4.0.
- Confirm whether affected applications run on Windows hosts.
- Review ssh2 call sites for user-controlled input handling.
- Verify deployed artifacts resolve ssh2 to 1.4.0 or later.
- Document no provided evidence of active exploitation or KEV listing.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-78: Command execution behavior lookup
Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-26301 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N2.24.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/mscdex/ssh2/commit/f763271f41320e71d5cbee02ea5bc6a2ded3ca21CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://securitylab.github.com/advisories/GHSL-2020-123-mscdex-ssh2/CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://www.npmjs.com/package/ssh2CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.