CVE-2018-10896
The default cloud-init configuration, in cloud-init 0.6.2 and newer, included "ssh_deletekeys: 0", disabling cloud-init's deletion of ssh host keys.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.35%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
The default cloud-init configuration, in cloud-init 0.6.2 and newer, included "ssh_deletekeys: 0", disabling cloud-init's deletion of ssh host keys. In some environments, this could lead to instances created by cloning a golden master or template system, sharing ssh host keys, and being able to impersonate one another or conduct man-in-the-middle attacks.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.1 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
- EPSS
- 0.35% probability · 29th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-321
- Affected
- canonical/cloud-init
- Source
- secalert@redhat.com
EPSS 0.4% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/cloud-init/+bug/1781094Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1574338Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-10896Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/cloud-init/+bug/1781094Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1574338Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-10896Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.