OpenSSH versions on Ubuntu

Like all major Linux distributions, Ubuntu backports security and bug fixes so that updates do not break applications due to version incompatibilities.

Ubuntu only packages the latest versions of software when there is a new Ubuntu release. Then, for the life of each Ubuntu release, they keep software patched to ensure security and stability without introducing breaking changes.

The table below lists the OpenSSH version installed on each Ubuntu version. As long as your server’s Ubuntu version has not reached its end of life, the OpenSSH installation on your server is being regularly updated with security patches.

Ubuntu release	OpenSSH version	Changelog
Ubuntu 24.04	OpenSSH 9.6	changelog
Ubuntu 22.04	OpenSSH 8.9	changelog
Ubuntu 20.04	OpenSSH 8.2	changelog
Ubuntu 18.04	OpenSSH 7.6	changelog
Ubuntu 16.04	OpenSSH 7.2	changelog
Ubuntu 14.04	OpenSSH 6.6	changelog

Upgrading OpenSSH on Ubuntu

To upgrade OpenSSH, upgrade the server’s Ubuntu release.

Caution

Installing a third-party OpenSSH package may break your server.

False positives from PCI scanners

If you receive a PCI compliance warning telling you to update to the most recent version of OpenSSH, your PCI scanner is most likely showing a false positive.

You do not and should not take any action to change your server.

Instead, let the company performing the PCI scan know the version of Ubuntu the server is running and the version of the OpenSSH package installed on the server. You can get this information using the following commands.

Show your server’s Ubuntu version:

lsb_release -r

Show your server’s openssh-server package version:

dpkg --list openssh-server

You may also want to provide the company performing the scan with a link to the OpenSSH changelog for your server’s Ubuntu version (see the table above).