Understanding SSH Authentication and Key Exchange
# What Happens When an SSH Client Connects to a Server?1## Key Exchange Phase (KEX)
* Even if only password authentication is used, SSH still performs key exchange.
* The server and client negotiate encryption keys using algorithms like Diffie-Hellman (DH).
2## User Authentication Phase
* After encryption keys are exchanged, the user authenticates using a username and password.
Why is the Answer FALSE?
# Even with password authentication, SSH still performs key exchange to establish an encrypted session.
# The SSH session is always encrypted using cryptographic keys generated during KEX.
Real-World Application:
* Secure Remote Access: Protects login credentials from MITM (Man-in-the-Middle) attacks.
* Cloud & Datacenter Networks: Ensures secure SSH connections across remote infrastructure.
# Reference: Huawei HCIE-Datacom Guide - SSH Key Exchange and Authentication