CVE-2019-6111

MEDIUM EXPLOITED IN THE WILD RANSOMWARE

OpenSSH < 7.9 - Arbitrary File Write via Malicious SCP Server

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2019-6111 has been observed exploited in the wild (reported by VulnCheck KEV, InTheWild.io), including in ransomware campaigns. EIP tracks 4 public exploits from researchers including Mark E. Haase, Harry Sintonen, 53n7hu.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit demonstrates CVE-2019-6111 and CVE-2019-6110 in OpenSSH's SCP client by sending an additional malicious file (exploit.txt) and hiding its transfer using ANSI escape sequences. It sets up a fake SCP server that exploits vulnerable clients during file downloads.

Description

An issue was discovered in OpenSSH 7.9. Due to the scp implementation being derived from 1983 rcp, the server chooses which files/directories are sent to the client. However, the scp client only performs cursory validation of the object name returned (only directory traversal attacks are prevented). A malicious scp server (or Man-in-The-Middle attacker) can overwrite arbitrary files in the scp client target directory. If recursive operation (-r) is performed, the server can manipulate subdirectories as well (for example, to overwrite the .ssh/authorized_keys file).

Exploits (4)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by Mark E. Haase · pythonremotemultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46193

This exploit demonstrates CVE-2019-6111 and CVE-2019-6110 in OpenSSH's SCP client by sending an additional malicious file (exploit.txt) and hiding its transfer using ANSI escape sequences. It sets up a fake SCP server that exploits vulnerable clients during file downloads.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: OpenSSH SCP client 7.6p1
Auth required
Prerequisites: Vulnerable OpenSSH SCP client · Network access to the target · Paramiko Python library
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC
by Harry Sintonen · pythonremotemultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46516

This exploit demonstrates CVE-2019-6110 and CVE-2019-6111 in OpenSSH's SCP client by creating a malicious SCP server that sends an additional file (exploit.txt) and hides the transfer using ANSI escape sequences. It leverages the SCP protocol's lack of proper validation to manipulate file transfers and terminal output.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: OpenSSH client 7.6p1
Auth required
Prerequisites: Paramiko library · Python 3.6.7 · Vulnerable OpenSSH client
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec NO CODE 4 stars
by 53n7hu · poc
https://github.com/53n7hu/SNP
nomisec WRITEUP
by mbadanoiu · poc
https://github.com/mbadanoiu/MAL-008

This repository documents CVE-2019-6111, an SSH client vulnerability in Cisco SD-WAN v20.4.2.1 that allows file overwrite via malicious SSH servers, potentially leading to RCE. It references external PoCs and requires MITM or social engineering.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: Cisco SD-WAN v20.4.2.1
No auth needed
Prerequisites: SSH MITM position · Victim connection to malicious SSH server
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (23)

Core 23
Core References
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4387
Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106741
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3885-1/
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3885-2/
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46193/
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201903-16
Mailing List, Third Party Advisory mailing-list
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/03/msg00030.html
Mailing List, Third Party Advisory mailing-list
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/04/18/1
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3702
Mailing List, Third Party Advisory mailing-list
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/08/02/1
Exploit, Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1677794

Scores

CVSS v3 5.9
EPSS 0.5820
EPSS Percentile 99.0%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation poc
Automatable no
Technical Impact partial

Details

VulnCheck KEV 2020-11-02
InTheWild.io 2022-05-25
Ransomware Use Confirmed
CWE
CWE-22
Status published
Products (32)
apache/mina_sshd 2.2.0
canonical/ubuntu_linux 14.04
canonical/ubuntu_linux 16.04
canonical/ubuntu_linux 18.04
canonical/ubuntu_linux 18.10
debian/debian_linux 8.0
debian/debian_linux 9.0
fedoraproject/fedora 30
freebsd/freebsd 12.0 (4 CPE variants)
freebsd/freebsd < 12.0
... and 22 more
Published Jan 31, 2019
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026