Russh is a Rust SSH client and server library. Prior to 0.63.2, an authenticated remote peer can send SSH_MSG_KEXINIT without the required SSH_MSG_KEX_ECDH_INIT and then flood SSH_MSG_CHANNEL_OPEN messages while SessionKexState::InProgress prevents priority_receiver in russh/src/server/session.rs from being drained. The server continues processing network input and enqueues a ChannelOpenReply for each request on an unbounded channel, allowing one connection to grow memory until the process is terminated. This issue is fixed in version 0.63.2.
The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.
| Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Hardened Images | RedHat | openshell-main-0.1.2-0.2.hum1 | * |
Mitigation of resource exhaustion attacks requires that the target system either:
The first of these solutions is an issue in itself though, since it may allow attackers to prevent the use of the system by a particular valid user. If the attacker impersonates the valid user, they may be able to prevent the user from accessing the server in question.
The second solution is simply difficult to effectively institute – and even when properly done, it does not provide a full solution. It simply makes the attack require more resources on the part of the attacker.