Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-35388

Openbsd Openssh ≤ 10.3

Published
02 April 2026
Modified
24 July 2026
CVSS Score v3.1 2.5
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0013 3th percentile
Risk Priority 22 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-35388 is a low-severity Unprotected Alternate Channel (CWE-420) vulnerability in Openbsd Openssh. Its CVSS base score is 2.5 (Low).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Fallback Channels (T1008); ranked at the 3th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SC-8 (Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity) and AC-4 (Information Flow Enforcement) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

OpenSSH before 10.3 omits connection multiplexing confirmation for proxy-mode multiplexing sessions.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1008 Fallback Channels Command And Control
Adversaries may use fallback or alternate communication channels if the primary channel is compromised or inaccessible in order to maintain reliable command and control and to avoid data transfer thresholds.
T1048 Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol Exfiltration
Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over a different protocol than that of the existing command and control channel.
T1048.003 Exfiltration Over Unencrypted Non-C2 Protocol Exfiltration
Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over an un-encrypted network protocol other than that of the existing command and control channel.
T1571 Non-Standard Port Command And Control
Adversaries may communicate using a protocol and port pairing that are typically not associated.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-59998Same product: Openbsd Openssh
CVE-2026-60002Same product: Openbsd Openssh
CVE-2026-35387Same product: Openbsd Openssh
CVE-2026-35414Same product: Openbsd Openssh
CVE-2026-59995Same product: Openbsd Openssh
CVE-2026-35386Same product: Openbsd Openssh
CVE-2026-60001Same product: Openbsd Openssh
CVE-2026-35385Same product: Openbsd Openssh
CVE-2026-60000Same product: Openbsd Openssh
CVE-2026-59997Same product: Openbsd Openssh

Affected Assets

openbsd
openssh
≤ 10.3

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

Transmission confidentiality and integrity requirements apply to all transmitted data, preventing weaker protection on secondary channels.

Information flow enforcement requires consistent authorization and control over every path, directly stopping unequal protection of alternate channels.

Boundary protection mandates monitoring and control at all external and key internal interfaces, eliminating unprotected alternate channels.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.DS-02 mostly match
prevents

Protecting all data-in-transit directly mitigates unequal channel protection though the control addresses broader transit scenarios.

PR.IR-01 mostly match
prevents

Network protection from unauthorized access inherently requires securing every channel, not just primaries.

DE.CM-01 partial match
prevents

Network monitoring can surface use of unprotected alternate channels but does not prevent the design flaw.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Access restrictions may cover primary paths but leave alternate channels unprotected unless explicitly extended.

prevents

Secure authentication applies to primary channels but does not ensure alternate channels receive the same strength.

mitigates

Network security controls ensure all channels receive equivalent protection, directly addressing unprotected alternate channels.

prevents

Security of network services requires consistent protection across all service channels, mitigating alternate-channel weaknesses.

mitigates

Network segregation can reduce exposure of alternate channels but does not guarantee equivalent protection levels.

mitigates

Cryptography can protect alternate channels but does not address the policy of applying equal protection across channels.

References