I am attempting to do a simple connection to a SSH server using OpenSSH for Windows using a private key, and am met with this:
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@ WARNING: UNPROTECTED PRIVATE KEY FILE! @
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Permissions for 'private' are too open.
It is required that your private key files are NOT accessible by others.
This private key will be ignored.
Load key "private": bad permissions
On Linux, this is fixed with a simple chmod 600 on the private key file, however Windows does not have an equivalent method.
This sounds like something that should be pretty easy, but I am completely unable to find any reasonable solution to it. Is there a way to either add the private key directly without going through a file, or to skip this privacy check? Or am I missing something else entierly?
asked Feb 20, 2018 at 15:12
ExcludosExcludos
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2
You can use icacls in Windows instead of chmod to adjust file permission. To give the current user read permission and remove everything else (Which will allow openssh to work), this works nicely:
Command Prompt:
icacls .\private.key /inheritance:r
icacls .\private.key /grant:r "%username%":"(R)"
In PowerShell, you can get icacls to work by wrapping the command in a call to cmd.exe
icacls .\private.key /inheritance:r
start-process "icacls.exe" -ArgumentList '.\private.key /grant:r "$env:USERNAME":"(R)"'
Aamnah
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answered Feb 22, 2018 at 9:32
ExcludosExcludos
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11
FYI: Rename the «test.pem» to your original pem file name.
-
Setting path variable
$path = ".\test.pem" -
Reset to remove explicit permissions
icacls.exe $path /reset -
Give current user explicit read-permission
icacls.exe $path /GRANT:R "$($env:USERNAME):(R)" -
Disable inheritance and remove inherited permissions
icacls.exe $path /inheritance:r
Note:
- You can replace the file name as per your file name. In this case it is test.pem.
- You must be in the same directory where your file is located.
- You must open power shell as administrator.
ouflak
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answered Nov 25, 2021 at 7:21
1
I did it on Windows 10 and it fixed the issue as you can see in the image as well.
You should change the owner of the file(which contains the private key)to your username with full access.
and then remove the other usernames that have access to that file.
-
right-click on the file which contains the private key and clicks on properties and then Security tab> Advanced
by clicking on the change button you can change the owner to your username.
(if you don’t know the name of your username run: «echo %USERNAME%» in command prompt.)
Change>Advanced…>Find Now -
remove all Permission entries except the one you just added
click on Disable inheritance> Convert inherited permissions…
then remove all Permission entries except the one you just added.
enter image description here
answered Dec 10, 2020 at 7:17
pedrampedram
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For windows 10
store the key file in User
Ex: C:\Users\MANNEM.ssh
Make sure permission of private key file will be as shown in the image
answered Mar 24, 2021 at 6:09
You locate the file in Windows Explorer, right-click on it then select «Properties». Navigate to the «Security» tab and click «Advanced».
Change the owner to you, disable inheritance and delete all permissions. Then grant yourself «Full control» and save the permissions. Now SSH won’t complain about file permission too open anymore.
answered Oct 21, 2020 at 8:16
Shraddha JShraddha J
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i had the same error on windows, but after moving the private key file to «C:\Users\Administrator.ssh» it works fine
answered Sep 3, 2021 at 15:44
MedMahmoudMedMahmoud
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If we are still looking the solution of the SSH problem:
- Go to your private key and add the root user (make sure you are adding the owner of the computer) of your computer and provide full rights.
- Remove the other users.
If we are not able to remove the users:
- Go to the security tab in Properties tab and click on Advanced
- In next screen there will be a Disable Inheritance button — click on that.
- It will open a popup and select the first option (Convert inherited permissions..) and then try removing.
In my issue, I was trying to connect ec2.prem file which is a private key to AWS and after following above steps, I was able to resolve it.
Tomerikoo
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answered Jul 12, 2020 at 2:18
sobby01sobby01
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Save the following script and run it for the keys you need to reset the permission for.
This is based on the commands given in the answer above
# ResetKeyPermssions.ps1 <keyfile>
# Resets windows permissions for private key file, such that ssh-add doesn't complain about permissions being too open
$path = $args[0]
#icacls.exe $path /reset #not required as :R replaces permissions
# replace all permissions, give full control to currently logged in user
icacls.exe $path /GRANT:R "$($env:USERNAME):(F)"
# Remove all inheritances
icacls.exe $path /inheritance:r
answered Jun 7, 2022 at 8:01
VijayVijay
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I tried changing permission but that didn’t work.
What worked for me was changing the ownership to current user, as the key was created by other Admin user
answered May 4, 2022 at 12:16
Answer by iBug works fine! You can follow that and get rid of this issue.
But there are few things which are needed to be cleared as I faced issues during setting up permissions and it took few minutes for me to figure out the problem!
Following iBug’s answer, you’ll remove all the permissions but how do you set Full Control permission to yourself? that’s where I got stuck at first as I didn’t knew how to do that.
After Disabling Inheritance, you’ll be able to delete all allowed users or groups.
Once Done with that,
Click on Add then click on Set a Principal then enter System and Administrators and your email addredd in the field at bottom then click on check names.
It’ll load the name if user exists.
Then, Click on OK > Type Allow > Basic Permisisons Full Control > Okay
This will setup Full Control permission to SYSTEM, Administrators and Your User.
After that try to ssh using that key. It should be solved now.
I had same issue and I solved that using this method.
If there’s any user or group with that name then it’ll load that.
-Screenshots-
Permission Entries
Select a Principal/ Select User or Groups
The warning unprotected private key file error affects your program or application when logging in to a server via a key file and SSH or AWS EC. As a result, the private key is widely accessible to users on the system, causing several unexpected obstacles, such as the warning: unprotected private key file Windows 11.
Luckily, we researched the unprotected private key, developed several debugging approaches, and explained the standard culprits for the failed private key file. In addition, we will help you recreate the warning: unprotected private key file Windows 10, which is beneficial when troubleshooting the application.
Contents
- Why Is the Warning Unprotected Private Key File Bug Happening?
- – Attempting to SSH Into an EC2
- How to Repair the Unprotected Private Key File Warning Exception?
- – Changing the Values in the Python Web Server
- – Granting Permission Entry in the Advanced Security Settings
- Conclusion
Why Is the Warning Unprotected Private Key File Bug Happening?
The warning: unprotected private key file AWS Windows mistake happens when logging in to a server via a central file and SSH. Unfortunately, the unprotected private input is accessible to users on the server, forcing your program to display the annoying broken message.
For instance, this is awful because it defeats the purpose of a private key if you are not the only one able to use it. As a result, your program launches the warning: unprotected private key file Linux, which can affect many programs and operating systems, significantly advanced projects and programs.
Unfortunately, this is one of the many causes for the warning: unprotected private key file! mac mistake in your app, which sounds discouraging. However, we found three debugging methods that should help you remove the script exception without causing other complications or errors in your application, which only take a minute to complete.
Still, we will wait to discuss the solutions for the warning: unprotected private key file ansible bug because we must recreate the syntax. As a result, we will show you the error’s complete appearance to help you locate the broken paths because it indicates several inputs.
However, each document is unique because it has different elements, but the solutions work for all warning: unprotected private key file PowerShell messages. Although we suggest changing several values and properties, you can copy and paste the answers to your document.
– Attempting to SSH Into an EC2
This guide’s first script recreates the warning: unprotected private key file! AWS exception attempts to SSH into an EC2. Unfortunately, although the procedure appears straightforward, your system launches a warning blocking further code alterations and functions. As a result, we will show you the bugged message and then the Wiki docker’s contents.
The following example provides the invalid code snippet:
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@ WARNING: UNPROTECTED PRIVATE KEY FILE! @
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Permissions 0644 for ‘/Users/akull/.ssh/id_rsa_bar.pub’ are too open.
It is necessary that your private key files are NOT accessible by others.
This private input will be ignored.
Load key “/Users/akull/.ssh/id_rsa_bar.pub”: bad permissions
Permission denied (publickey).
fatal: Could not read from remote repository.
hint: Please make sure you have the correct access rights and the repository exists.
As you can tell, the last few code lines confirm your program’s inconsistencies and broken properties. However, you can learn more about the Wiki docker in the following script:
Last login: Sun June 8 15:22:41 2022 from 193.167.123.18
root@lxs01:~# docker exec -it -u 0 de370430eeaa bash
bash-5.1# cd
bash-5.1# ls -1
total 72
drwxr-xr-x 1 root
drwxr-xr-x 5 root
drwxr-xr-x 1 root
drwxr-xr-x 2 node
drwxr-xr-x 5 root
drwxr-xr-x 1 root
drwxr-xr-x 2 node
drwxr-xr-x 209 root
drwxr-xr-x 13 root
dr-xr-xr-x 1 node
drwx——
drwxr-xr-x 2 root
drwxr-xr-x 2 root
drwxr-xr-x 2 root
dr-xr-xr-x 13 root
drwxrwxrwt 1 root
drwxr-xr-x 1 root
drwxr-xr-x 1 root
bash-5.1#
This example completes the incorrect messages, which may or may not be identical to your program. Still, the solutions remain identical.
How to Repair the Unprotected Private Key File Warning Exception?
You can repair your document and remove this unprotected private key exception by updating the permissions to the private key file only to allow access from the current user. As a result, you will make the document inaccessible to users on the server, deleting the error and allowing further procedures.
For instance, you can access the advanced properties and locate the permission entries. Next, you must remove all excepts for the key’s user by setting the function to complete control, and the mistake should disappear, as confirmed by the CMD and PowerShell syntaxes.
You will learn more about the CMD script below:
Set Key=”%UserProfile%\.ssh\id_rsa”
::# Remove Inheritance:
Icacls %Key% /c /t /Inheritance:d
::# Set Ownership to Owner:
:: # Key’s within %UserProfile%:
Icacls %Key% /c /t /Grant %UserName%:F
:: # Key’s outside of %UserProfile%:
TakeOwn /F %Key%
Icacls %Key% /c /t /Grant:r %UserName%:F
::# Remove All Users, except for Owner:
Icacls %Key% /c /t /Remove:g “Authenticated Users” BUILTIN\Administrators BUILTIN Everyone System Users
::# Verify:
Icacls %Key%
::# Remove Variable:
set “Key=”
The following example provides the PowerShell file confirming the successful change:
New-Variable -Name Key -Value “$env:UserProfile\.ssh\id_rsa”
# Remove Inheritance:
Icacls $Key /c /t /Inheritance:d
# Set Ownership to Owner:
# Key’s within $env:UserProfile:
Icacls $Key /c /t /Grant ${env:UserName}:F
# Key’s outside of $env:UserProfile:
TakeOwn /F $Key
Icacls $Key /c /t /Grant:r ${env:UserName}:F
# Remove All Users, except for Owner:
Icacls $Key /c /t /Remove:g Administrator “Authenticated Users” BUILTIN\Administrators BUILTIN Everyone System Users
# Verify:
Icacls $Key
# Remove Variable:
Remove-Variable -Name Key
You can fix the error by playing around with the Python web server.
– Changing the Values in the Python Web Server
You can reenable the processes and fix the private key by changing the reverse shell inputs in the Python web server where the command is stored. This approach bypasses the broken properties and downloads the string for the memory. As a result, the system loads the control into the memory, allowing you to execute the SSH essential file procedure.
Learn more about this debugging approach in the following example:
[CmdletBinding()]
[Alias(‘setprivkeyacl’)]
Param (
[Parameter(
Mandatory = $true,
ValueFromPipeline = $true
)]
[ValidateScript({
if (-not (Test-Path $_)) { throw “Invalid Path: $_”}
else { return $true }
})]
[String[]]
$KeyFilePath
)
process {
foreach ($file in $KeyFilePath) {
$acl = Get-Acl $file
$identity = whoami
$rights = ‘FullControl’
$type = ‘Allow’
# Create an access rule with the current user getting full access
$accessRule = New-Object -TypeName System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule -ArgumentList $identity, $rights, $type
# Add the rule to the object
$acl.SetAccessRule($accessRule)
# Apply the changes
Set-Acl $file $acl
$acl = Get-Acl $file
# Protect the file from inheritance
$isProtected = $true
# Remove existing inherited rules
$preserveInheritance = $false
# Strip inheritance
$acl.SetAccessRuleProtection($isProtected, $preserveInheritance)
# Apply changes
Set-Acl $file $acl
$acl = Get-Acl $file
# Remove any remaining access rules
$acl.Access |
Where-Object {$_.IdentityReference -ne $(whoami)} |
ForEach-Object { $acl.RemoveAccessRule($_)}
# Apply changes
Set-Acl $file $acl
}
}
}
You can ensure the solution was complete by reading the next code snippet:
Set-SSHPrivateKeyAcl -KeyFile .\test
icacls test
test ADDC1\web.user:(F)
Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files
After enabling these commands and pushing the changes, executing the SSH key file will no longer be challenging or time-consuming.
– Granting Permission Entry in the Advanced Security Settings
Granting permission entry via the advanced security settings removes this exception and allows further procedures. Luckily, you can complete this from the command prompt by following these steps:
- Locate the file path location of the .pem file
- Use the following command to reset and remove specific permissions: icacls.exe $path /reset
- This command should help you grant permission to the current user: icacls.exe $path GRANT:R “$($env:USERNAME):(R)”
- Next, you must disable inheritance and remove the inherited permissions with the following property: icacls.exe $path inheritance:r
- Save the changes and close the program
You will avoid all obstacles connecting to the Linux server via SSH from Windows, and the program will not display the code exception. Still, follow the steps cautiously to avoid mistakes.
Conclusion
The unprotected key file error affects your program when logging in to a server via a key file and SSH. We covered and explained the following critical points to help you debug the program:
- The invalid code warning is unique because you use different elements and values
- Learning about the error log helps you locate the failed SSH property
- Removing this file mistake is straightforward by updating the permissions
- You can grant permission entry in the advanced security settings
Although it is a challenging bug to overcome and remove, this guide explored several approaches that should help you fix the program. We encourage you to apply the methods and complete your incomplete project.
- Author
- Recent Posts
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This article provides a fix to “warning: unprotected private key file!” on Linux and Windows OS. So, you want to be surreal to follow the article to the end to learn the simple command to fix on your Linux and steps to take on Windows to fix this as well.
However, before we deal with the “unprotected private key file!” let’s quickly take a look at what and why you keep seeing this error message.
Username and Password Vs Server
When you want to connect to a server you’d need to either use a password and username or private keys. Although both methods can be used but using private keys can be more confusing as a single mistake can lead to unexpected errors because you need to run SSH with extra commands. But with the use of a password and username, the process can be pretty straightforward and direct.
Why You Keep Seeing “Warning: Unprotected Private Key File!
The warning: unprotected private key file! error occurs when you try to sign in to an SSH server with an unsecured or opened permission. However, in most cases, you’d need to change the permission to fix the unprotected private key file.
Another reason why you’d experience this error is that someone else has altered or changed the hidden .ssh folder in the users’ directory.
Change SSH Private Key Permission
If your SSH private key permission is set to public, then, you need to change the key permission.
- Locate the SSH Private key location on your Linux.
- Launch “Terminal.”
- You can get the private key permission that brought about the error [this is optional though].
- Change the private key level to the level that is acceptable that won’t return the “warning: unprotected private key file!.”
$ chmod 600 .ssh/simplified-guide.pem
- Now, try the SSH private key authentication whether it’ll return the error message again.
You’d not want a random fellow to help you fix this as it might cause more problems than expected. So, we will consider how to fix this aws warning error message on Linux and Windows.
Reset the Private Key Permission
You can also reset the Linux private key file to the default permission.
udo chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_rsa sudo chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
This should work. However, if it’s not working and you are getting another error; just try the following again.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes Failed to add the host to the list of known hosts (/home/geek/.ssh/known_hosts).
If it fails to add the host to the list of known hosts it means that the file was set incorrectly. With this, you need to adjust it with the command below.
sudo chmod 644 ~/.ssh/known_hosts
Once you have adjusted the file with the command above you then need to adjust the directory permission with the command below.
sudo chmod 755 ~/.ssh
How to Fix Warning: Unprotected Private Key File! on Windows
Follow the steps below if you are connecting Windows!
- Go to the .pem file.
- Right-click on the file and scroll down to select “properties.”
- Go to the “Advanced” tab and select “Advanced.”
- Confirm that you have the administrative right else the owner’s username will have to be changed.
- Choose “Disable Inheritance” and “Remove all inherited permission from this subject.”
- Select “Add” >> “Select a principal” >> “Enter username” >> OK.
- Enable “Read Permission” >> Ok [in the permission entry window].
- Select “OK” >> “OK.”
- Select the “Advanced Security Settings >> Properties.”
Now, you will be able to connect the Linux instance from your Windows via SSH.
With these steps in this guide, you should be able to handle and fix the “warning: unprotected private key file!” error message on your Linux and Windows via SSH.
I was just setting up my AWS CLI on a new Windows 10 machine and I ran into this error when trying to remote into my EC2 instance.
This is not related to AWS in any shape or form – it is a straightforward SSH requirement that is enforced on both Windows and Unix systems.
The issue is that we haven’t protected our private key file so if we’re going to use it to connect to an SSH endpoint then the OS forces us to conform to security standards by flagging up that UNPROTECTED PRIVATE KEY FILE error.
The solution is simple – we must fix exactly what it tell us to do in those bold capital letters. So let’s fix the security settings for our file.
The private key file that I’m trying to use as you may see from the screenshot is “ec2-demo.pem”. So we start by finding it in Windows Explorer.
now right-click on it and go to “Properties” and then the “Security” tab and then click on “Advanced”.
On the Advanced tab we need to do the folowing:
- Make sure that you, the user who is logged in, is the file owner
- Disable inheritance. If it prompts you to remove all current inherited permissions then accept it.
- We need to give us Full Control. First, make sure that the Permission Entries panel is empty, i.e. there are no explicit permissions set. Then click on Add, then click on Select a Principal at the top and then click on “Advanced” and use “Find Now” to find the user you are logged in as. Once you find it, tick the Full Control box and click ok.
Close all windows and try running your SSH command again. It should work now.
If it doesn’t, here’s the check list: double check that you are the owner of the file, that you have Full Control permissions assigned and finally that there are no other permissions set except the one giving you full control.