Trouble authenticating with git for windows

[Gabor L]

I was using Bitbucket successfully with SmartGit, but after they changed their licensing requirements I tried to change to git for windows.  I installed git for windows and then checked that OpenSSH was successfully installed by running

ssh -V

getting

OpenSSH_9.2p1, OpenSSL 1.1.1t  7 Feb 2023

Then I started the ssh-agent with

eval $(ssh-agent)

and got

Agent pid 629

Then I tried adding my existing SSH key to the agent with

ssh-add ~/my_key_name

but that didn’t work, so I generated a new key with

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -b 4096 -C "{username@emaildomain.com}" -f {ssh-key-name}

and then added the public key to my Bitbucket account.  I added the key to the agent with

ssh-add ~/my_new_key_name

which resulted in

Identity added: /c/Users/me/my_new_key_name (myaddress@email.com)

I ran

ssh -T git@bitbucket.org

to confirm that the SSH key was successfully added, getting

authenticated via ssh key.

You can use git to connect to Bitbucket. Shell access is disabled

But when I then run git pull or git fetch I get

git@bitbucket.org: Permission denied (publickey).

fatal: Could not read from remote repository.

Please make sure you have the correct access rights

and the repository exists.

If I run

ssh -T git@bitbucket.org

again I’m refused, getting

git@bitbucket.org: Permission denied (publickey).

I’ve run out of ideas, please help.

[Gabor L · Accepted solution]

I ended up solving this by doing the following:

I generated a new key named id_rsa, not something custom like I had been doing

I added the key with

ssh-add ~/{ssh-key-name}

but then the key step was adding a config file (~/.ssh/config) since there had been none telling Bitbucket which key to use, i.e.

Host bitbucket.org

  AddKeysToAgent yes

  IdentityFile ~/.ssh/{ssh-key-name}

Of course these directions are listed plain as day here

https://support.atlassian.com/bitbucket-cloud/docs/set-up-personal-ssh-keys-on-windows/

but since my previous key had been working and there was no config file I didn’t think that was the problem.  It was.

[Erez Maadani · Accepted solution]

Hey @Gabor L 

Here is a link that help troubleshooting: https://confluence.atlassian.com/bbkb/permission-denied-publickey-302811860.html

If the link doesn't help, try checking your remote url using: "git remote -v". It should be aligned with one of the formats from this link: https://support.atlassian.com/bitbucket-cloud/docs/change-the-remote-url-to-your-repository/. Do try both formats.

[Gabor L]

Hi Erez,

Thanks for that.  I realized I was missing an authorized_keys file in my .ssh directory, so when I added the file including a line for my key and ran

ssh -T git@bitbucket.org

I got

authenticated via ssh key.

You can use git to connect to Bitbucket. Shell access is disabled

and now no matter how many times I run it it stays the same as opposed to before when after I tried git pull, for example, it didn’t work anymore.  But when I run

ssh -t -vvv git@bitbucket.org

I get the following:

OpenSSH_9.2p1, OpenSSL 1.1.1t  7 Feb 2023

debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config

debug1: /etc/ssh/ssh_config line 55: Applying options for bitbucket.org

debug3: expanded UserKnownHostsFile '~/.ssh/known_hosts' -> '/c/Users/tix/.ssh/known_hosts'

debug3: expanded UserKnownHostsFile '~/.ssh/known_hosts2' -> '/c/Users/tix/.ssh/known_hosts2'

debug2: resolving "bitbucket.org" port 22

debug3: resolve_host: lookup bitbucket.org:22

debug3: ssh_connect_direct: entering

debug1: Connecting to bitbucket.org [18.205.93.1] port 22.

debug3: set_sock_tos: set socket 4 IP_TOS 0x48

debug1: Connection established.

debug1: identity file /c/Users/tix/bb_g type 3

debug1: identity file /c/Users/tix/bb_g-cert type -1

debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_9.2

debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version conker_0fbb776d60 35b70849510a

debug1: compat_banner: no match: conker_0fbb776d60 35b70849510a

debug2: fd 4 setting O_NONBLOCK

debug1: Authenticating to bitbucket.org:22 as 'git'

debug3: record_hostkey: found key type RSA in file /c/Users/tix/.ssh/known_hosts:2

debug3: load_hostkeys_file: loaded 1 keys from bitbucket.org

debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /c/Users/tix/.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: prefer hostkeyalgs: rsa-sha2-512-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-256-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-512,rsa-sha2-256

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

debug2: host key algorithms: rsa-sha2-512-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-256-cert-v01@openssh.com,rsa-sha2-512,rsa-sha2-256,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,ssh-ed25519,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521,sk-ssh-ed25519@openssh.com,sk-ecdsa-sha2-nistp256@openssh.com

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@libssh.org,ecdh-sha2-nistp256,ecdh-sha2-nistp384,ecdh-sha2-nistp521,diffie-hellman-group14-sha1,diffie-hellman-group1-sha1,ext-info-s

debug2: host key algorithms: ssh-rsa,rsa-sha2-256,rsa-sha2-512,ssh-dss

debug2: ciphers ctos: aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-gcm@openssh.com,chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com

debug2: ciphers stoc: aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,aes128-gcm@openssh.com,chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com

debug2: MACs ctos: hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha1,hmac-sha1-96

debug2: MACs stoc: hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha1,hmac-sha1-96

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@libssh.org

debug1: kex: host key algorithm: rsa-sha2-512

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-rsa SHA256:zzXQOXSRBEiUtuE8AikJYKwbHaxvSc0ojez9YXaGp1A

debug3: record_hostkey: found key type RSA in file /c/Users/tix/.ssh/known_hosts:2

debug3: load_hostkeys_file: loaded 1 keys from bitbucket.org

debug1: load_hostkeys: fopen /c/Users/tix/.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 'bitbucket.org' is known and matches the RSA host key.

debug1: Found key in /c/Users/tix/.ssh/known_hosts:2

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

debug3: ssh_get_authentication_socket_path: path '/tmp/ssh-WF8prVNcZ0cY/agent.1384'

debug1: get_agent_identities: ssh_get_authentication_socket: Bad file descriptor

debug1: Will attempt key: /c/Users/tix/bb_g ED25519 SHA256:StqIMk4bEGLcTKv64rTZRrY1i+SjK4FQaKh7XR63fL0

debug2: pubkey_prepare: done

debug3: send packet: type 5

debug3: receive packet: type 7

debug1: SSH2_MSG_EXT_INFO received

debug1: kex_input_ext_info: server-sig-algs=<rsa-sha2-256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521,ssh-rsa-cert-v01@openssh.com,ssh-dss-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521-cert-v01@openssh.com,ssh-rsa,rsa-sha2-512,ssh-dss,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384-cert-v01@openssh.com>

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

debug3: start over, passed a different list publickey

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

debug1: Offering public key: /c/Users/tix/bb_g ED25519 SHA256:StqIMk4bEGLcTKv64rTZRrY1i+SjK4FQaKh7XR63fL0

debug3: send packet: type 50

debug2: we sent a publickey packet, wait for reply

debug3: receive packet: type 60

debug1: Server accepts key: /c/Users/tix/bb_g ED25519 SHA256:StqIMk4bEGLcTKv64rTZRrY1i+SjK4FQaKh7XR63fL0

debug3: sign_and_send_pubkey: using publickey with ED25519 SHA256:StqIMk4bEGLcTKv64rTZRrY1i+SjK4FQaKh7XR63fL0

debug3: sign_and_send_pubkey: signing using ssh-ed25519 SHA256:StqIMk4bEGLcTKv64rTZRrY1i+SjK4FQaKh7XR63fL0

debug3: ssh_get_authentication_socket_path: path '/tmp/ssh-WF8prVNcZ0cY/agent.1384'

debug3: no authentication agent, not adding key

debug3: send packet: type 50

debug3: receive packet: type 52

Authenticated to bitbucket.org ([18.205.93.1]:22) using "publickey".

debug1: channel 0: new session [client-session] (inactive timeout: 0)

debug3: ssh_session2_open: channel_new: 0

debug2: channel 0: send open

debug3: send packet: type 90

debug1: Entering interactive session.

debug1: pledge: filesystem

debug3: client_repledge: enter

debug3: receive packet: type 91

debug2: channel_input_open_confirmation: channel 0: callback start

debug2: fd 4 setting TCP_NODELAY

debug3: set_sock_tos: set socket 4 IP_TOS 0x48

debug2: client_session2_setup: id 0

debug2: channel 0: request pty-req confirm 1

debug3: send packet: type 98

debug2: channel 0: request shell confirm 1

debug3: send packet: type 98

debug3: client_repledge: enter

debug2: channel_input_open_confirmation: channel 0: callback done

debug2: channel 0: open confirm rwindow 2097152 rmax 32768

debug3: receive packet: type 100

debug2: channel_input_status_confirm: type 100 id 0

PTY allocation request failed on channel 0

Now, my key is not named id_rsa or any of the standard names, but it was working with Smartgit.  Then when I ran

ssh-add -l

I got

Error connecting to agent: Bad file descriptor

so I ran

eval $(ssh-agent)

which gave me

Agent pid 1637

Then running

ssh-add -l

I got

The agent has no identities.

so I added the key again with

ssh-add ~/.ssh/nh_rsa

and then

ssh-add -l

gave me

2048 SHA256:JXyFivBZGaaRsdeoJy3aL3SiEVhvLIORgAe4vDuW6p4 /c/Users/my_user/.ssh/nh_rsa (RSA)

so I appeared to be in business, but I still can’t read from the repository.  git branch is still giving me old branches, for example, and git pull is giving me

git@bitbucket.org: Permission denied (publickey).

fatal: Could not read from remote repository.

Please make sure you have the correct access rights

and the repository exists.

Please help.