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CVE Record

CVE-2026-35385: In OpenSSH before 10.3, a file downloaded by scp may be installed setuid or setgid, an outcome contrary to...

In OpenSSH before 10.3, a file downloaded by scp may be installed setuid or setgid, an outcome contrary to some users' expectations, if the download is performed as root with -O (legacy scp protocol) and without -p (preserve mode).

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This issue affects a narrow but risky OpenSSH scp workflow. If root downloads a file using legacy scp mode, the downloaded file can unexpectedly keep setuid or setgid permissions. That can turn a copied file into a privileged executable and create serious confidentiality, integrity, and availability risk.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation on administrative hosts, build systems, backup jobs, and automation servers where root-run scp is plausible. The vulnerable condition is specific, but the impact can be high because unexpected privileged files can undermine host trust.

Technical view

CVE-2026-35385 is a CWE-281 permission-handling flaw in OpenSSH before 10.3. It applies when scp downloads are run as root with -O, using the legacy scp protocol, and without -p. Under those conditions, setuid or setgid mode may be installed unexpectedly on the downloaded file.

Likely exposure

Likely exposure is concentrated on systems where administrators or automation run scp as root with -O against OpenSSH versions before 10.3. Environments using vendor-fixed packages or avoiding legacy scp mode for privileged downloads have lower exposure.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector indicates network reachability, high attack complexity, and required user interaction. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Treat this as a serious hardening and patching issue, not a confirmed exploited-in-the-wild event.

Researcher notes

Key constraints are important: OpenSSH before 10.3, scp download, root execution, -O legacy protocol, and no -p. The provided affected metadata is limited and somewhat sparse, so product impact should be confirmed against vendor advisories before broad claims.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade OpenSSH to 10.3 or a vendor-fixed package.
  • Apply relevant Red Hat security advisories where applicable.
  • Avoid running scp downloads as root with -O.
  • Avoid legacy scp protocol unless operationally required.
  • Review vendor guidance for platform-specific remediation.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory OpenSSH and scp versions across managed systems.
  • Identify scripts or jobs invoking scp as root with -O.
  • Check whether privileged scp downloads omit -p.
  • Confirm vendor advisories are applied on supported distributions.
  • Review file-transfer procedures for unexpected setuid or setgid outputs.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
12

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-281: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-35385 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

2CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
2ADP providers
36Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.65.9mitre
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.65.9redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-35385Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  3. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  4. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
redhat-SADPOpenSSH: OpenSSH: Privilege escalation via scp legacy protocol when not preserving file mode
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-04-02T17:01:07.052Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-04-02T16:30:59.615Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
OpenBSDOpenSSH0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-281

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.