openssh unix dev - Feb 2001 - RedHat 7 - key finger print 00:00:...:00 - fatal: xfree: NULL pointer given as argument

I had the problems above too. The problem here is the utility ssh-keygen of the
RPM-package distribution. It just generates invalid DSA-keys with key finger
prints of 00:00:...:00. The only solution is to compile and install the source
of OpenSSH 2.5.1p1. Though if you're as lazy as I am and still want to use
the
RPMs (quite easier to deinstall) then just do the following:

- Install the RPMs
- Extract the source (tar -xf openssh.tar.gz) and compile it
("./configure" and
"make"), but do NOT install.
- Rather just copy openssh-2.5.1p1/ssh-keygen to /usr/bin
- Delete all *key* files in /etc/ssh (so they will be regenerated at next
sshd-startup)
- Restart the daemon (/etc/rc.d/init.d/sshd restart)

This should fix the problems mentioned in the subject. At least it did for me
and my RH-servers.

-Martin Biermair

On Tue, 27 Feb 2001 Martin.Biermair at quickstep.at
wrote:
> I had the problems above too. The problem here is the utility ssh-keygen of
the
> RPM-package distribution. It just generates invalid DSA-keys with key
finger
> prints of 00:00:...:00. The only solution is to compile and install the
source
> of OpenSSH 2.5.1p1. Though if you're as lazy as I am and still want to
use the
> RPMs (quite easier to deinstall) then just do the following:
>
> - Install the RPMs
> - Extract the source (tar -xf openssh.tar.gz) and compile it
("./configure" and
> "make"), but do NOT install.
> - Rather just copy openssh-2.5.1p1/ssh-keygen to /usr/bin
> - Delete all *key* files in /etc/ssh (so they will be regenerated at next
> sshd-startup)
> - Restart the daemon (/etc/rc.d/init.d/sshd restart)
>
> This should fix the problems mentioned in the subject. At least it did for
me
> and my RH-servers.
Better way to do this is to get the .src.rpm file from the FTP site and
say:

rpm --rebuild *.src.rpm.

You get working OpenSSL (other utils beside ssh-keygen) will work too.

-- 
Pekka Savola                  "Tell me of difficulties surmounted,
Netcore Oy                    not those you stumble over and fall"
Systems. Networks. Security.   -- Robert Jordan: A Crown of Swords