diff --git a/nxc/protocols/ssh.py b/nxc/protocols/ssh.py
index 0a81f2ad..40e3441c 100644
--- a/nxc/protocols/ssh.py
+++ b/nxc/protocols/ssh.py
@@ -195,9 +195,16 @@ class ssh(connection):
                     with open(self.args.key_file) as f:
                         private_key = f.read()
 
-                pkey = paramiko.RSAKey.from_private_key(StringIO(private_key), password)
-
-                self.conn._transport.auth_publickey(username, pkey)
+                pkey = paramiko.RSAKey.from_private_key(StringIO(private_key))
+                self.conn.connect(
+                    self.host,
+                    port=self.port,
+                    username=username,
+                    passphrase=password if password != "" else None,
+                    pkey=pkey,
+                    look_for_keys=False,
+                    allow_agent=False,
+                )
 
                 cred_id = self.db.add_credential(
                     "key",
@@ -208,7 +215,14 @@ class ssh(connection):
 
             else:
                 self.logger.debug(f"Logging {self.host} with username: {self.username}, password: {self.password}")
-                self.conn._transport.auth_password(username, password, fallback=True)
+                self.conn.connect(
+                    self.host,
+                    port=self.port,
+                    username=username,
+                    password=password,
+                    look_for_keys=False,
+                    allow_agent=False,
+                )
                 cred_id = self.db.add_credential("plaintext", username, password)
 
             # Some IOT devices will not raise exception in self.conn._transport.auth_password / self.conn._transport.auth_publickey