Cloning git repo causes error - Host key verification failed. fatal: The remote end hung up unexpectedly

Solution 1:

The issue could be that Github isn't present in your ~/.ssh/known_hosts file.

Append GitHub to the list of authorized hosts:

ssh-keyscan -H github.com >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts

Solution 2:

Resolved the issue... you need to add the ssh public key to your github account.

1. Verify that the ssh keys have been setup correctly.
   1. Run ssh-keygen
   2. Enter the password (keep the default path - ~/.ssh/id_rsa)
2. Add the public key (~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub) to github account
3. Try git clone. It works!

Initial status (public key not added to git hub account)

foo@bn18-251:~$ rm -rf test
foo@bn18-251:~$ ls
foo@bn18-251:~$ git clone [email protected]:devendra-d-chavan/test.git
Cloning into 'test'...
Permission denied (publickey).
fatal: The remote end hung up unexpectedly
foo@bn18-251:~$

Now, add the public key ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub to the github account (I used cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub)

foo@bn18-251:~$ ssh-keygen 
Generating public/private rsa key pair.
Enter file in which to save the key (/home/foo/.ssh/id_rsa): 
Created directory '/home/foo/.ssh'.
Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase): 
Enter same passphrase again: 
Your identification has been saved in /home/foo/.ssh/id_rsa.
Your public key has been saved in /home/foo/.ssh/id_rsa.pub.
The key fingerprint is:
xxxxx
The key's randomart image is:
+--[ RSA 2048]----+
xxxxx
+-----------------+
foo@bn18-251:~$ cat ./.ssh/id_rsa.pub 
xxxxx
foo@bn18-251:~$ git clone [email protected]:devendra-d-chavan/test.git
Cloning into 'test'...
The authenticity of host 'github.com (207.97.227.239)' can't be established.
RSA key fingerprint is 16:27:ac:a5:76:28:2d:36:63:1b:56:4d:eb:df:a6:48.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes
Warning: Permanently added 'github.com,207.97.227.239' (RSA) to the list of known hosts.
Enter passphrase for key '/home/foo/.ssh/id_rsa': 
warning: You appear to have cloned an empty repository.
foo@bn18-251:~$ ls
test
foo@bn18-251:~/test$ git status
# On branch master
#
# Initial commit
#
nothing to commit (create/copy files and use "git add" to track)