nmap / nmap/nmap

ssh-brute stops working with a large amount of open hosts

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NSE
Dominant language
C
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Description

Hi, ssh-brute plugin stops working if you define a large number of hosts, 1-10 goes fine. a /24 however does not work, I tried to have it running for 18hours straight but no proggress.

NSE: Active NSE Script Threads: 75 (75 waiting)
NSE Timing: About 81.48% done; ETC: 13:41 (0:00:13 remaining)
NSE: Waiting: ssh-brute M:55e95b2c7ff8 against xxxxxxx:22
stack traceback:
[C]: in local 'condvar'
/usr/local/bin/../share/nmap/nselib/brute.lua:1220: in method 'start'
/usr/local/bin/../share/nmap/scripts/ssh-brute.nse:109: in function </usr/local/bin/../share/nmap/scripts/ssh-brute.nse:100>
(...tail calls...)

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First steps

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  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with ssh-brute.nse around lines 100-109 and brute.lua around line 1220, then reproduce the report with 1-10 hosts and a /24. Trace why the script remains waiting with many open hosts. Done means ssh-brute completes its work across the larger host range rather than stopping indefinitely.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
lua
Domain
networking, security
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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