---
title: "CVE-2010-4478\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2010-4478?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2010-4478

Publication date 6 December 2010

Last updated 6 June 2026

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**9.8 · Critical**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2010-4478?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

OpenSSH 5.6 and earlier, when J-PAKE is enabled, does not properly validate
the public parameters in the J-PAKE protocol, which allows remote attackers
to bypass the need for knowledge of the shared secret, and successfully
authenticate, by sending crafted values in each round of the protocol, a
related issue to CVE-2010-4252.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2010-4478?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| openssh | 10.10 maverick | Not affected |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected |
| 9.10 karmic | Not affected |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Not affected |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2010-4478?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [sbeattie](https://launchpad.net/~sbeattie)

openssh in karmic and prior does not include J-PAKE auth
support; in lucid and maverick it's present but not enabled at compile
time. Added a QRT regression test that looks for client-side support.

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| openssh | * Upstream:   <http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/usr.bin/ssh/jpake.c.diff?r1=1.4;r2=1.5> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

9.8 · Critical

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 9.8 · Critical |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2010-4478)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-4478)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2010-4478)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2010-4478)

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-4478>