VYPR
High severityNVD Advisory· Published Nov 14, 2023· Updated Feb 25, 2026

CVE-2023-46446

CVE-2023-46446

Description

An issue in AsyncSSH before 2.14.1 allows attackers to control the remote end of an SSH client session via packet injection/removal and shell emulation, aka a "Rogue Session Attack."

AI Insight

LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.

AsyncSSH before 2.14.1 contains a state machine flaw enabling a rogue session attack where an attacker with shell access can hijack an SSH client session via packet injection.

Vulnerability

Description

CVE-2023-46446, known as the "Rogue Session Attack," is a vulnerability in AsyncSSH versions prior to 2.14.1. The root cause is a flaw in the server's state machine that allows an attacker to inject a valid authentication request before the client sends its NewKeys message [3][4]. This injection is accepted and deferred by the server, eventually authenticating the attacker instead of the legitimate client.

Exploitation

An attacker must have a shell account on the AsyncSSH server. The attack works by injecting an authentication request (e.g., password or publickey) into the handshake sequence before the client's key exchange completes [2][4]. The server, due to the state machine issue, processes this request after the client finishes authentication, effectively logging the client into the attacker's account [4]. No additional kernel access or network position is required; the attacker only needs the ability to send raw SSH packets from their shell account.

Impact

Once the attacker hijacks the session, they gain complete control over the remote end of the SSH client session. This includes capturing all keyboard input, controlling terminal output, manipulating forwarded network ports, and using any forwarded SSH agent to create signatures [4]. The attacker can perform a perfect shell emulation, enabling strong phishing attacks and full Man-in-the-Middle capabilities within the encrypted session [2][4]. Confidentiality and integrity of the SSH channel are completely broken.

Mitigation

The vulnerability is fixed in AsyncSSH version 2.14.1 [1][4]. The fix hardens the state machine to reject packets that arrive out of order during the handshake [3]. Users should update their AsyncSSH installations immediately. No workarounds are known.

AI Insight generated on May 20, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.

Affected packages

Versions sourced from the GitHub Security Advisory.

PackageAffected versionsPatched versions
asyncsshPyPI
< 2.14.12.14.1

Affected products

3

Patches

1
83e43f5ea347

Harden AsyncSSH state machine against message injection during handshake

https://github.com/ronf/asyncsshRon FrederickNov 9, 2023via ghsa
2 files changed · +207 76
  • asyncssh/connection.py+83 49 modified
    @@ -899,6 +899,8 @@ def __init__(self, loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
             self._can_send_ext_info = False
             self._extensions_to_send: 'OrderedDict[bytes, bytes]' = OrderedDict()
     
    +        self._can_recv_ext_info = False
    +
             self._server_sig_algs: Set[bytes] = set()
     
             self._next_service: Optional[bytes] = None
    @@ -908,6 +910,7 @@ def __init__(self, loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
             self._auth: Optional[Auth] = None
             self._auth_in_progress = False
             self._auth_complete = False
    +        self._auth_final = False
             self._auth_methods = [b'none']
             self._auth_was_trivial = True
             self._username = ''
    @@ -1538,15 +1541,25 @@ def _recv_packet(self) -> bool:
             skip_reason = ''
             exc_reason = ''
     
    -        if self._kex and MSG_KEX_FIRST <= pkttype <= MSG_KEX_LAST:
    -            if self._ignore_first_kex: # pragma: no cover
    -                skip_reason = 'ignored first kex'
    -                self._ignore_first_kex = False
    +        if MSG_KEX_FIRST <= pkttype <= MSG_KEX_LAST:
    +            if self._kex:
    +                if self._ignore_first_kex: # pragma: no cover
    +                    skip_reason = 'ignored first kex'
    +                    self._ignore_first_kex = False
    +                else:
    +                    handler = self._kex
                 else:
    -                handler = self._kex
    -        elif (self._auth and
    -              MSG_USERAUTH_FIRST <= pkttype <= MSG_USERAUTH_LAST):
    -            handler = self._auth
    +                skip_reason = 'kex not in progress'
    +                exc_reason = 'Key exchange not in progress'
    +        elif MSG_USERAUTH_FIRST <= pkttype <= MSG_USERAUTH_LAST:
    +            if self._auth:
    +                handler = self._auth
    +            else:
    +                skip_reason = 'auth not in progress'
    +                exc_reason = 'Authentication not in progress'
    +        elif pkttype > MSG_KEX_LAST and not self._recv_encryption:
    +            skip_reason = 'invalid request before kex complete'
    +            exc_reason = 'Invalid request before key exchange was complete'
             elif pkttype > MSG_USERAUTH_LAST and not self._auth_complete:
                 skip_reason = 'invalid request before auth complete'
                 exc_reason = 'Invalid request before authentication was complete'
    @@ -1579,6 +1592,9 @@ def _recv_packet(self) -> bool:
             if exc_reason:
                 raise ProtocolError(exc_reason)
     
    +        if pkttype > MSG_USERAUTH_LAST:
    +            self._auth_final = True
    +
             if self._transport:
                 self._recv_seq = (seq + 1) & 0xffffffff
                 self._recv_handler = self._recv_pkthdr
    @@ -1596,9 +1612,7 @@ def send_packet(self, pkttype: int, *args: bytes,
                 self._send_kexinit()
                 self._kexinit_sent = True
     
    -        if (((pkttype in {MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST, MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT} or
    -              pkttype > MSG_KEX_LAST) and not self._kex_complete) or
    -                (pkttype == MSG_USERAUTH_BANNER and
    +        if ((pkttype == MSG_USERAUTH_BANNER and
                      not (self._auth_in_progress or self._auth_complete)) or
                     (pkttype > MSG_USERAUTH_LAST and not self._auth_complete)):
                 self._deferred_packets.append((pkttype, args))
    @@ -1810,9 +1824,11 @@ def send_newkeys(self, k: bytes, h: bytes) -> None:
                             not self._waiter.cancelled():
                         self._waiter.set_result(None)
                         self._wait = None
    -                else:
    -                    self.send_service_request(_USERAUTH_SERVICE)
    +                    return
             else:
    +            self._extensions_to_send[b'server-sig-algs'] = \
    +                b','.join(self._sig_algs)
    +
                 self._send_encryption = next_enc_sc
                 self._send_enchdrlen = 1 if etm_sc else 5
                 self._send_blocksize = max(8, enc_blocksize_sc)
    @@ -1833,17 +1849,18 @@ def send_newkeys(self, k: bytes, h: bytes) -> None:
                     recv_mac=self._mac_alg_cs.decode('ascii'),
                     recv_compression=self._cmp_alg_cs.decode('ascii'))
     
    -            if first_kex:
    -                self._next_service = _USERAUTH_SERVICE
    -
    -                self._extensions_to_send[b'server-sig-algs'] = \
    -                    b','.join(self._sig_algs)
    -
             if self._can_send_ext_info:
                 self._send_ext_info()
                 self._can_send_ext_info = False
     
             self._kex_complete = True
    +
    +        if first_kex:
    +            if self.is_client():
    +                self.send_service_request(_USERAUTH_SERVICE)
    +            else:
    +                self._next_service = _USERAUTH_SERVICE
    +
             self._send_deferred_packets()
     
         def send_service_request(self, service: bytes) -> None:
    @@ -2080,18 +2097,25 @@ def _process_service_request(self, _pkttype: int, _pktid: int,
             service = packet.get_string()
             packet.check_end()
     
    -        if service == self._next_service:
    -            self.logger.debug2('Accepting request for service %s', service)
    +        if self.is_client():
    +            raise ProtocolError('Unexpected service request received')
     
    -            self.send_packet(MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT, String(service))
    +        if not self._recv_encryption:
    +            raise ProtocolError('Service request received before kex complete')
     
    -            if (self.is_server() and               # pragma: no branch
    -                    not self._auth_in_progress and
    -                    service == _USERAUTH_SERVICE):
    -                self._auth_in_progress = True
    -                self._send_deferred_packets()
    -        else:
    -            raise ServiceNotAvailable('Unexpected service request received')
    +        if service != self._next_service:
    +            raise ServiceNotAvailable('Unexpected service in service request')
    +
    +        self.logger.debug2('Accepting request for service %s', service)
    +
    +        self.send_packet(MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT, String(service))
    +
    +        self._next_service = None
    +
    +        if service == _USERAUTH_SERVICE: # pragma: no branch
    +            self._auth_in_progress = True
    +            self._can_recv_ext_info = False
    +            self._send_deferred_packets()
     
         def _process_service_accept(self, _pkttype: int, _pktid: int,
                                     packet: SSHPacket) -> None:
    @@ -2100,27 +2124,35 @@ def _process_service_accept(self, _pkttype: int, _pktid: int,
             service = packet.get_string()
             packet.check_end()
     
    -        if service == self._next_service:
    -            self.logger.debug2('Request for service %s accepted', service)
    +        if self.is_server():
    +            raise ProtocolError('Unexpected service accept received')
     
    -            self._next_service = None
    +        if not self._recv_encryption:
    +            raise ProtocolError('Service accept received before kex complete')
     
    -            if (self.is_client() and               # pragma: no branch
    -                    service == _USERAUTH_SERVICE):
    -                self.logger.info('Beginning auth for user %s', self._username)
    +        if service != self._next_service:
    +            raise ServiceNotAvailable('Unexpected service in service accept')
     
    -                self._auth_in_progress = True
    +        self.logger.debug2('Request for service %s accepted', service)
     
    -                # This method is only in SSHClientConnection
    -                # pylint: disable=no-member
    -                cast('SSHClientConnection', self).try_next_auth()
    -        else:
    -            raise ServiceNotAvailable('Unexpected service accept received')
    +        self._next_service = None
    +
    +        if service == _USERAUTH_SERVICE: # pragma: no branch
    +            self.logger.info('Beginning auth for user %s', self._username)
    +
    +            self._auth_in_progress = True
    +
    +            # This method is only in SSHClientConnection
    +            # pylint: disable=no-member
    +            cast('SSHClientConnection', self).try_next_auth()
     
         def _process_ext_info(self, _pkttype: int, _pktid: int,
                               packet: SSHPacket) -> None:
             """Process extension information"""
     
    +        if not self._can_recv_ext_info:
    +            raise ProtocolError('Unexpected ext_info received')
    +
             extensions: Dict[bytes, bytes] = {}
     
             self.logger.debug2('Received extension info')
    @@ -2246,6 +2278,7 @@ def _process_newkeys(self, _pkttype: int, _pktid: int,
                 self._decompress_after_auth = self._next_decompress_after_auth
     
                 self._next_recv_encryption = None
    +            self._can_recv_ext_info = True
             else:
                 raise ProtocolError('New keys not negotiated')
     
    @@ -2273,8 +2306,10 @@ def _process_userauth_request(self, _pkttype: int, _pktid: int,
             if self.is_client():
                 raise ProtocolError('Unexpected userauth request')
             elif self._auth_complete:
    -            # Silently ignore requests if we're already authenticated
    -            pass
    +            # Silently ignore additional auth requests after auth succeeds,
    +            # until the client sends a non-auth message
    +            if self._auth_final:
    +                raise ProtocolError('Unexpected userauth request')
             else:
                 if username != self._username:
                     self.logger.info('Beginning auth for user %s', username)
    @@ -2316,7 +2351,7 @@ async def _finish_userauth(self, begin_auth: bool, method: bytes,
             self._auth = lookup_server_auth(cast(SSHServerConnection, self),
                                                  self._username, method, packet)
     
    -    def _process_userauth_failure(self, _pkttype: int, pktid: int,
    +    def _process_userauth_failure(self, _pkttype: int, _pktid: int,
                                       packet: SSHPacket) -> None:
             """Process a user authentication failure response"""
     
    @@ -2356,10 +2391,9 @@ def _process_userauth_failure(self, _pkttype: int, pktid: int,
                 # pylint: disable=no-member
                 cast(SSHClientConnection, self).try_next_auth()
             else:
    -            self.logger.debug2('Unexpected userauth failure response')
    -            self.send_packet(MSG_UNIMPLEMENTED, UInt32(pktid))
    +            raise ProtocolError('Unexpected userauth failure response')
     
    -    def _process_userauth_success(self, _pkttype: int, pktid: int,
    +    def _process_userauth_success(self, _pkttype: int, _pktid: int,
                                       packet: SSHPacket) -> None:
             """Process a user authentication success response"""
     
    @@ -2385,6 +2419,7 @@ def _process_userauth_success(self, _pkttype: int, pktid: int,
                 self._auth = None
                 self._auth_in_progress = False
                 self._auth_complete = True
    +            self._can_recv_ext_info = False
     
                 if self._agent:
                     self._agent.close()
    @@ -2412,8 +2447,7 @@ def _process_userauth_success(self, _pkttype: int, pktid: int,
                     self._waiter.set_result(None)
                     self._wait = None
             else:
    -            self.logger.debug2('Unexpected userauth success response')
    -            self.send_packet(MSG_UNIMPLEMENTED, UInt32(pktid))
    +            raise ProtocolError('Unexpected userauth success response')
     
         def _process_userauth_banner(self, _pkttype: int, _pktid: int,
                                      packet: SSHPacket) -> None:
    
  • tests/test_connection.py+124 27 modified
    @@ -30,11 +30,12 @@
     from unittest.mock import patch
     
     import asyncssh
    -from asyncssh.constants import MSG_UNIMPLEMENTED, MSG_DEBUG
    +from asyncssh.constants import MSG_DEBUG
     from asyncssh.constants import MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST, MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT
    -from asyncssh.constants import MSG_KEXINIT, MSG_NEWKEYS
    +from asyncssh.constants import MSG_KEXINIT, MSG_NEWKEYS, MSG_KEX_FIRST
     from asyncssh.constants import MSG_USERAUTH_REQUEST, MSG_USERAUTH_SUCCESS
     from asyncssh.constants import MSG_USERAUTH_FAILURE, MSG_USERAUTH_BANNER
    +from asyncssh.constants import MSG_USERAUTH_FIRST
     from asyncssh.constants import MSG_GLOBAL_REQUEST
     from asyncssh.constants import MSG_CHANNEL_OPEN, MSG_CHANNEL_OPEN_CONFIRMATION
     from asyncssh.constants import MSG_CHANNEL_OPEN_FAILURE, MSG_CHANNEL_DATA
    @@ -337,14 +338,6 @@ def begin_auth(self, username):
             return False
     
     
    -def disconnect_on_unimplemented(self, pkttype, pktid, packet):
    -    """Process an unimplemented message response"""
    -
    -    # pylint: disable=unused-argument
    -
    -    self.disconnect(asyncssh.DISC_BY_APPLICATION, 'Unexpected response')
    -
    -
     @patch_gss
     @patch('asyncssh.connection.SSHClientConnection', _CheckAlgsClientConnection)
     class _TestConnection(ServerTestCase):
    @@ -974,8 +967,8 @@ def send_newkeys(self, k, h):
     
             with patch('asyncssh.connection.SSHClientConnection.send_newkeys',
                        send_newkeys):
    -            async with self.connect():
    -                pass
    +            with self.assertRaises(asyncssh.ProtocolError):
    +                await self.connect()
     
         @asynctest
         async def test_encryption_algs(self):
    @@ -1101,21 +1094,85 @@ async def test_invalid_debug(self):
             await conn.wait_closed()
     
         @asynctest
    -    async def test_invalid_service_request(self):
    -        """Test invalid service request"""
    +    async def test_service_request_before_kex_complete(self):
    +        """Test service request before kex is complete"""
    +
    +        def send_newkeys(self, k, h):
    +            """Finish a key exchange and send a new keys message"""
    +
    +            self.send_packet(MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST, String('ssh-userauth'))
    +
    +            asyncssh.connection.SSHConnection.send_newkeys(self, k, h)
    +
    +        with patch('asyncssh.connection.SSHClientConnection.send_newkeys',
    +                   send_newkeys):
    +            with self.assertRaises(asyncssh.ProtocolError):
    +                await self.connect()
    +
    +    @asynctest
    +    async def test_service_accept_before_kex_complete(self):
    +        """Test service accept before kex is complete"""
    +
    +        def send_newkeys(self, k, h):
    +            """Finish a key exchange and send a new keys message"""
    +
    +            self.send_packet(MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT, String('ssh-userauth'))
    +
    +            asyncssh.connection.SSHConnection.send_newkeys(self, k, h)
    +
    +        with patch('asyncssh.connection.SSHServerConnection.send_newkeys',
    +                   send_newkeys):
    +            with self.assertRaises(asyncssh.ProtocolError):
    +                await self.connect()
    +
    +    @asynctest
    +    async def test_unexpected_service_name_in_request(self):
    +        """Test unexpected service name in service request"""
     
             conn = await self.connect()
             conn.send_packet(MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST, String('xxx'))
             await conn.wait_closed()
     
         @asynctest
    -    async def test_invalid_service_accept(self):
    -        """Test invalid service accept"""
    +    async def test_unexpected_service_name_in_accept(self):
    +        """Test unexpected service name in accept sent by server"""
    +
    +        def send_newkeys(self, k, h):
    +            """Finish a key exchange and send a new keys message"""
    +
    +            asyncssh.connection.SSHConnection.send_newkeys(self, k, h)
    +
    +            self.send_packet(MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT, String('xxx'))
    +
    +        with patch('asyncssh.connection.SSHServerConnection.send_newkeys',
    +                   send_newkeys):
    +            with self.assertRaises(asyncssh.ServiceNotAvailable):
    +                await self.connect()
    +
    +    @asynctest
    +    async def test_service_accept_from_client(self):
    +        """Test service accept sent by client"""
     
             conn = await self.connect()
    -        conn.send_packet(MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT, String('xxx'))
    +        conn.send_packet(MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT, String('ssh-userauth'))
             await conn.wait_closed()
     
    +    @asynctest
    +    async def test_service_request_from_server(self):
    +        """Test service request sent by server"""
    +
    +        def send_newkeys(self, k, h):
    +            """Finish a key exchange and send a new keys message"""
    +
    +            asyncssh.connection.SSHConnection.send_newkeys(self, k, h)
    +
    +            self.send_packet(MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST, String('ssh-userauth'))
    +
    +        with patch('asyncssh.connection.SSHServerConnection.send_newkeys',
    +                   send_newkeys):
    +            with self.assertRaises(asyncssh.ProtocolError):
    +                await self.connect()
    +
         @asynctest
         async def test_packet_decode_error(self):
             """Test SSH packet decode error"""
    @@ -1322,6 +1379,39 @@ async def test_invalid_newkeys(self):
             conn.send_packet(MSG_NEWKEYS)
             await conn.wait_closed()
     
    +    @asynctest
    +    async def test_kex_after_kex_complete(self):
    +        """Test kex request when kex not in progress"""
    +
    +        conn = await self.connect()
    +        conn.send_packet(MSG_KEX_FIRST)
    +        await conn.wait_closed()
    +
    +    @asynctest
    +    async def test_userauth_after_auth_complete(self):
    +        """Test userauth request when auth not in progress"""
    +
    +        conn = await self.connect()
    +        conn.send_packet(MSG_USERAUTH_FIRST)
    +        await conn.wait_closed()
    +
    +    @asynctest
    +    async def test_userauth_before_kex_complete(self):
    +        """Test receiving userauth before kex is complete"""
    +
    +        def send_newkeys(self, k, h):
    +            """Finish a key exchange and send a new keys message"""
    +
    +            self.send_packet(MSG_USERAUTH_REQUEST, String('guest'),
    +                             String('ssh-connection'), String('none'))
    +
    +            asyncssh.connection.SSHConnection.send_newkeys(self, k, h)
    +
    +        with patch('asyncssh.connection.SSHClientConnection.send_newkeys',
    +                   send_newkeys):
    +            with self.assertRaises(asyncssh.ProtocolError):
    +                await self.connect()
    +
         @asynctest
         async def test_invalid_userauth_service(self):
             """Test invalid service in userauth request"""
    @@ -1371,25 +1461,32 @@ async def test_extra_userauth_request(self):
                                  String('ssh-connection'), String('none'))
                 await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
     
    +    @asynctest
    +    async def test_late_userauth_request(self):
    +        """Test userauth request after auth is final"""
    +
    +        async with self.connect() as conn:
    +            conn.send_packet(MSG_GLOBAL_REQUEST, String('xxx'),
    +                             Boolean(False))
    +            conn.send_packet(MSG_USERAUTH_REQUEST, String('guest'),
    +                             String('ssh-connection'), String('none'))
    +            await conn.wait_closed()
    +
         @asynctest
         async def test_unexpected_userauth_success(self):
             """Test unexpected userauth success response"""
     
    -        with patch.dict('asyncssh.connection.SSHConnection._packet_handlers',
    -                        {MSG_UNIMPLEMENTED: disconnect_on_unimplemented}):
    -            conn = await self.connect()
    -            conn.send_packet(MSG_USERAUTH_SUCCESS)
    -            await conn.wait_closed()
    +        conn = await self.connect()
    +        conn.send_packet(MSG_USERAUTH_SUCCESS)
    +        await conn.wait_closed()
     
         @asynctest
         async def test_unexpected_userauth_failure(self):
             """Test unexpected userauth failure response"""
     
    -        with patch.dict('asyncssh.connection.SSHConnection._packet_handlers',
    -                        {MSG_UNIMPLEMENTED: disconnect_on_unimplemented}):
    -            conn = await self.connect()
    -            conn.send_packet(MSG_USERAUTH_FAILURE, NameList([]), Boolean(False))
    -            await conn.wait_closed()
    +        conn = await self.connect()
    +        conn.send_packet(MSG_USERAUTH_FAILURE, NameList([]), Boolean(False))
    +        await conn.wait_closed()
     
         @asynctest
         async def test_unexpected_userauth_banner(self):
    

Vulnerability mechanics

Generated on May 9, 2026. Inputs: CWE entries + fix-commit diffs from this CVE's patches. Citations validated against bundle.

References

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News mentions

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