[JENKINS-60714] Cannot create jenkins ssh username with private key credential via rest xml api

Basically, I am trying to create a credential on jenkins via Rest API. Using xml data below:

```





GLOBAL

jenkins-github-ssh

jenkins-github-ssh

username



----BEGIN OPENSSH PRIVATE KEY----

*****************************************

----END OPENSSH PRIVATE KEY----





```

I can see the [credential][1] after calling REST post request. But when I use this credential for a GitHub repository, Jenkins says:

>Failed to connect to repository : Command "git ls-remote -h – git@​github.com:***.git HEAD" returned status code 128:

stdout:

stderr: Load key "/tmp/ssh3978703187838467164.key": invalid format

git@​github.com: Permission denied (publickey).

fatal: Could not read from remote repository.

But If I update the credential which is created by rest api with same private key above manually. It works. Somehow key is broken while posting, which seems to be a bug.

 

Do you guys have any idea to point me to a workaround?

Jenkins 2.198 & SSH Credentials Plugin 1.17.3

Thanks

[1]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/j7Ncg.png

---
Originally reported by samthebest, imported from: Cannot create jenkins ssh username with private key credential via rest xml api

• status: Open
  
• priority: Minor
  
• component(s): credentials-plugin, github-branch-source-plugin
  
• resolution: Unresolved
  
• votes: 1
  
• watchers: 8
  
• imported: 2025-12-02
  

Raw content of original issue

Basically, I am trying to create a credential on jenkins via Rest API. Using xml data below:


```

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>

<com.cloudbees.jenkins.plugins.sshcredentials.impl.BasicSSHUserPrivateKey>

 <scope>GLOBAL</scope>

 <id>jenkins-github-ssh</id>

 <description>jenkins-github-ssh</description>

 <username>username</username>

 <directEntryPrivateKeySource>

 <privateKey>----BEGIN OPENSSH PRIVATE KEY----

*****************************************

----END OPENSSH PRIVATE KEY----</privateKey>

 </directEntryPrivateKeySource>

</com.cloudbees.jenkins.plugins.sshcredentials.impl.BasicSSHUserPrivateKey>

```


I can see the [credential][1] after calling REST post request. But when I use this credential for a GitHub repository, Jenkins says:


>Failed to connect to repository : Command "git ls-remote -h – git@github.com:***.git HEAD" returned status code 128:

stdout:

stderr: Load key "/tmp/ssh3978703187838467164.key": invalid format

git@github.com: Permission denied (publickey).

fatal: Could not read from remote repository.


But If I update the credential which is created by rest api with same private key above manually. It works. Somehow key is broken while posting, which seems to be a bug.


 


Do you guys have any idea to point me to a workaround?


Jenkins 2.198 & SSH Credentials Plugin 1.17.3


Thanks


 [1]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/j7Ncg.png