GL-INET AX1800: Private key not working in ssh into router

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Using several attempts, I am unable to use a private key to log on to SSH into my GL 1800 AX router (firmware 4.7.0).
I tried it with installing OpenSSH with a different port number, but to no avail.
So I continued with the default dropbear SSH and disabled OpenSSH. ANd yet to no avail. I cleared the ~/.ssh/known_hosts on the client with references to the router, all to no avail. And ssh-copy-id root@glinetax1800.local also prompted for a password.
And I installed the public key via the Luci interface (both RSA and ED52219) which did not work either. And trying all instructions from this webpage https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/security/dropbear.public-key.auth did not work either.
Logging in results to this debug vomit:

ssh -vvv root@glinetax1800.local
OpenSSH_9.8p1, LibreSSL 3.3.6
debug1: Reading configuration data /Users/klaas/.ssh/config
debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config
debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 21: include /etc/ssh/ssh_config.d/* matched no files
debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 54: Applying options for *
debug3: expanded UserKnownHostsFile '~/.ssh/known_hosts' -> '/Users/klaas/.ssh/known_hosts'
debug3: expanded UserKnownHostsFile '~/.ssh/known_hosts2' -> '/Users/klaas/.ssh/known_hosts2'
debug1: Authenticator provider $SSH_SK_PROVIDER did not resolve; disabling
debug3: channel_clear_timeouts: clearing
debug1: Connecting to glinetax1800.local port 22.
debug1: Connection established.
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_rsa type 0
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_rsa-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ecdsa type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ecdsa-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ecdsa_sk type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ecdsa_sk-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ed25519 type 3
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ed25519-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ed25519_sk type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ed25519_sk-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_xmss type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_xmss-cert type -1
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_dsa type 1
debug1: identity file /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_dsa-cert type -1
debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_9.8
debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version dropbear
debug1: compat_banner: no match: dropbear
debug3: fd 5 is O_NONBLOCK
debug1: Authenticating to glinetax1800.local:22 as 'root'
debug3: record_hostkey: found key type ED25519 in file /Users/klaas/.ssh/known_hosts:212
debug3: load_hostkeys_file: loaded 1 keys from glinetax1800.local
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /Users/klaas/.ssh/known_hosts2: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts2: No such file or directory
debug3: order_hostkeyalgs: have matching best-preference key type ssh-ed25519-cert-v01@openssh.com, using HostkeyAlgorithms verbatim
debug3: send packet: type 20
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT sent
debug3: receive packet: type 20
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEXINIT received
debug2: local client KEXINIT proposal
debug2: KEX algorithms: sntrup761x25519-sha512@openssh.com,curve25519-sha256,curve25519-sha256@libssh.org,ecdh-sha2-nistp256,ecdh-sha2-nistp384,ecdh-sha2-nistp521,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256,diffie-hellman-group16-sha512,diffie-hellman-group18-sha512,diffie-hellman-group14-sha256,ext-info-c,kex-strict-c-v00@openssh.com
debug2: host key algorithms: ssh-ed25519-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ssh-ed25519-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-512-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-256-cert-v01@openssh.com,ssh-ed25519,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521,sk-ssh-ed25519@openssh.com,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-512,rsa-sha2-256
debug2: ciphers ctos: chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-gcm@openssh.com,aes256-gcm@openssh.com
debug2: ciphers stoc: chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-gcm@openssh.com,aes256-gcm@openssh.com
debug2: MACs ctos: umac-64-etm@openssh.com,umac-128-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-etm@openssh.com,umac-64@openssh.com,umac-128@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha1
debug2: MACs stoc: umac-64-etm@openssh.com,umac-128-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-etm@openssh.com,umac-64@openssh.com,umac-128@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha1
debug2: compression ctos: none,zlib@openssh.com,zlib
debug2: compression stoc: none,zlib@openssh.com,zlib
debug2: languages ctos: 
debug2: languages stoc: 
debug2: first_kex_follows 0 
debug2: reserved 0 
debug2: peer server KEXINIT proposal
debug2: KEX algorithms: curve25519-sha256,curve25519-sha256@libssh.org,diffie-hellman-group14-sha256,diffie-hellman-group14-sha1,kexguess2@matt.ucc.asn.au
debug2: host key algorithms: ssh-ed25519,rsa-sha2-256,ssh-rsa
debug2: ciphers ctos: chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com,aes128-ctr,aes256-ctr
debug2: ciphers stoc: chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com,aes128-ctr,aes256-ctr
debug2: MACs ctos: hmac-sha1,hmac-sha2-256
debug2: MACs stoc: hmac-sha1,hmac-sha2-256
debug2: compression ctos: none
debug2: compression stoc: none
debug2: languages ctos: 
debug2: languages stoc: 
debug2: first_kex_follows 0 
debug2: reserved 0 
debug1: kex: algorithm: curve25519-sha256
debug1: kex: host key algorithm: ssh-ed25519
debug1: kex: server->client cipher: chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com MAC: <implicit> compression: none
debug1: kex: client->server cipher: chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com MAC: <implicit> compression: none
debug3: send packet: type 30
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_KEX_ECDH_REPLY
debug3: receive packet: type 31
debug1: SSH2_MSG_KEX_ECDH_REPLY received
debug1: Server host key: ssh-ed25519 SHA256:kz7Wvodo2y7IBKgP6QptL2ymDIQUixNxGxpfnFgxrQo
debug3: record_hostkey: found key type ED25519 in file /Users/klaas/.ssh/known_hosts:212
debug3: load_hostkeys_file: loaded 1 keys from glinetax1800.local
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /Users/klaas/.ssh/known_hosts2: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts: No such file or directory
debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /etc/ssh/ssh_known_hosts2: No such file or directory
debug1: Host 'glinetax1800.local' is known and matches the ED25519 host key.
debug1: Found key in /Users/klaas/.ssh/known_hosts:212
debug3: send packet: type 21
debug2: ssh_set_newkeys: mode 1
debug1: rekey out after 134217728 blocks
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS sent
debug1: expecting SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS
debug3: receive packet: type 21
debug1: SSH2_MSG_NEWKEYS received
debug2: ssh_set_newkeys: mode 0
debug1: rekey in after 134217728 blocks
debug2: KEX algorithms: sntrup761x25519-sha512@openssh.com,curve25519-sha256,curve25519-sha256@libssh.org,ecdh-sha2-nistp256,ecdh-sha2-nistp384,ecdh-sha2-nistp521,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256,diffie-hellman-group16-sha512,diffie-hellman-group18-sha512,diffie-hellman-group14-sha256,ext-info-c,kex-strict-c-v00@openssh.com
debug2: host key algorithms: ssh-ed25519-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ssh-ed25519-cert-v01@openssh.com,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-512-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-256-cert-v01@openssh.com,ssh-ed25519,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521,sk-ssh-ed25519@openssh.com,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-512,rsa-sha2-256
debug2: ciphers ctos: chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-gcm@openssh.com,aes256-gcm@openssh.com
debug2: ciphers stoc: chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com,aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-gcm@openssh.com,aes256-gcm@openssh.com
debug2: MACs ctos: umac-64-etm@openssh.com,umac-128-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-etm@openssh.com,umac-64@openssh.com,umac-128@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha1
debug2: MACs stoc: umac-64-etm@openssh.com,umac-128-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-etm@openssh.com,umac-64@openssh.com,umac-128@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha1
debug2: compression ctos: none,zlib@openssh.com,zlib
debug2: compression stoc: none,zlib@openssh.com,zlib
debug2: languages ctos: 
debug2: languages stoc: 
debug2: first_kex_follows 0 
debug2: reserved 0 
debug3: send packet: type 5
debug3: receive packet: type 7
debug1: SSH2_MSG_EXT_INFO received
debug3: kex_input_ext_info: extension server-sig-algs
debug1: kex_ext_info_client_parse: server-sig-algs=<ssh-ed25519,rsa-sha2-256,ssh-rsa>
debug3: receive packet: type 6
debug2: service_accept: ssh-userauth
debug1: SSH2_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT received
debug3: send packet: type 50
debug3: receive packet: type 51
debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password
debug3: start over, passed a different list publickey,password
debug3: preferred publickey,keyboard-interactive,password
debug3: authmethod_lookup publickey
debug3: remaining preferred: keyboard-interactive,password
debug3: authmethod_is_enabled publickey
debug1: Next authentication method: publickey
debug3: ssh_get_authentication_socket_path: path '/Users/klaas/.sekey/ssh-agent.ssh'
debug1: get_agent_identities: ssh_get_authentication_socket: Connection refused
debug1: Skipping ssh-dss key /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_dsa - corresponding algorithm not in PubkeyAcceptedAlgorithms
debug1: Will attempt key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_rsa RSA SHA256:Mh8uuwZwf0zVhPGPmZ/i7SVHlikZmAleGnj9kphNMts
debug1: Will attempt key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ecdsa 
debug1: Will attempt key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ecdsa_sk 
debug1: Will attempt key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ed25519 ED25519 SHA256:ZJ+grijrDZCBHEnwsNaU9tiMqLWuqXDEZDGBQfyU2Ss   <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< This should work !!
debug1: Will attempt key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ed25519_sk 
debug1: Will attempt key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_xmss 
debug2: pubkey_prepare: done
debug1: Offering public key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_rsa RSA SHA256:Mh8uuwZwf0zVhPGPmZ/i7SVHlikZmAleGnj9kphNMts
debug3: send packet: type 50
debug2: we sent a publickey packet, wait for reply
debug3: receive packet: type 51
debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password
debug1: Trying private key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ecdsa
debug3: no such identity: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ecdsa: No such file or directory
debug1: Trying private key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ecdsa_sk
debug3: no such identity: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ecdsa_sk: No such file or directory
debug1: Offering public key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ed25519 ED25519 SHA256:ZJ+grijrDZCBHEnwsNaU9tiMqLWuqXDEZDGBQfyU2Ss
debug3: send packet: type 50
debug2: we sent a publickey packet, wait for reply
debug3: receive packet: type 51
debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password
debug1: Trying private key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ed25519_sk
debug3: no such identity: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_ed25519_sk: No such file or directory
debug1: Trying private key: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_xmss
debug3: no such identity: /Users/klaas/.ssh/id_xmss: No such file or directory
debug2: we did not send a packet, disable method
debug3: authmethod_lookup password
debug3: remaining preferred: ,password
debug3: authmethod_is_enabled password
debug1: Next authentication method: password
root@glinetax1800.local's password:

What am I doing wrong ?

2

install proper openwrt, or seek assistance at gl.inet.

https://git.openwrt.org/?p=openwrt/openwrt.git;a=commit;h=c3f2bb7afc72a6b6af99ff466bc22d9f123e36ab

https://firmware-selector.openwrt.org/?version=SNAPSHOT&target=qualcommax%2Fipq60xx&id=glinet_gl-ax1800

you device isn't running openwrt, but a vendor SDK, openwrt specific instructions could be a hit or miss.

not the 1st time you've been told this.

It appears you are using firmware that is not from the official OpenWrt project.

When using forks/offshoots/vendor-specific builds that are "based on OpenWrt", there may be many differences compared to the official versions (hosted by OpenWrt.org). Some of these customizations may fundamentally change the way that OpenWrt works. You might need help from people with specific/specialized knowledge about the firmware you are using, so it is possible that advice you get here may not be useful.

You may find that the best options are:

  1. Install an official version of OpenWrt, if your device is supported (see https://firmware-selector.openwrt.org).
  2. Ask for help from the maintainer(s) or user community of the specific firmware that you are using.
  3. Provide the source code for the firmware so that users on this forum can understand how your firmware works (OpenWrt forum users are volunteers, so somebody might look at the code if they have time and are interested in your issue).

If you believe that this specific issue is common to generic/official OpenWrt and/or the maintainers of your build have indicated as such, please feel free to clarify.

1 Like