mediumVulnerability

GHSA-3m6q-h5gj-7mrw

## Summary The built-in SSH server currently advertises a number of key exchange, MAC, and host key algorithms that are considered weak or broken. The defaults should be tightened so a fresh installation passes a baseline SSH security audit out of the box. ## Details Running `ssh-audit` against a default deployment flags the following as `fail`: - **Key exchange** - `ecdh-sha2-nistp256` - `ecdh-sha2-nistp384` - `ecdh-sha2-nistp521` - **MAC** - `hmac-sha1` - **Host key** - `ssh-rsa` ## Reproduction ```sh docker run -it --rm positronsecurity/ssh-audit -p 2222 gitea.local ``` ## Impact Default deployments expose algorithms that are known-weak or deprecated upstream. The current workaround requires manually setting several `GITEA__server__SSH_SERVER_*` variables, which most users will never do. ### Workaround ```ini [server] SSH_SERVER_KEY_EXCHANGES = curve25519-sha256, diffie-hellman-group14-sha256 SSH_SERVER_CIPHERS = [email protected], aes128-ctr, aes192-ctr, aes256-ctr, [email protected], [email protected] SSH_SERVER_MACS = [email protected], hmac-sha2-256 ``` There is no exposed option to restrict host key algorithms, so `ssh-rsa` remains advertised. ## Acceptance criteria - [ ] Default `SSH_SERVER_KEY_EXCHANGES`, `SSH_SERVER_CIPHERS`, and `SSH_SERVER_MACS` updated to the secure list above. - [ ] New `SSH_SERVER_HOST_KEY_ALGORITHMS` option added, with a default that excludes `ssh-rsa`. - [ ] Documentation updated to reflect the new defaults. - [ ] `ssh-audit` against a fresh install reports no `[fail]` entries.

Properties

ghsa_id
GHSA-3m6q-h5gj-7mrw
severity
medium
summary
Gitea has insecure default SSH settings
cve_id
GHSA-3m6q-h5gj-7mrw
is_ghsa_only
true
ghsa_published
2026-04-22T20:37:21Z
source_url
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-3m6q-h5gj-7mrw
ghsa_updated
2026-04-22T20:37:22Z

Related Entities (5)

VULNERABLE_TO (1)

[Software]go/code.gitea.io/gitea

AFFECTS (1)

[Software]go/code.gitea.io/gitea

HAS_WEAKNESS (2)

[Weakness]Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm
[Weakness]Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default

REPORTED_BY (1)

[Source]GitHub Advisory Database

Explore deeper with Ninja Signal's threat intelligence graph