diff --git a/qga/commands-posix-ssh.c b/qga/commands-posix-ssh.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f74d89679c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qga/commands-posix-ssh.c
@@ -0,0 +1,407 @@
+ /*
+  * This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL, version 2 or later.
+  * See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
+  */
+#include "qemu/osdep.h"
+
+#include <glib-unix.h>
+#include <glib/gstdio.h>
+#include <locale.h>
+#include <pwd.h>
+
+#include "qapi/error.h"
+#include "qga-qapi-commands.h"
+
+#ifdef QGA_BUILD_UNIT_TEST
+static struct passwd *
+test_get_passwd_entry(const gchar *user_name, GError **error)
+{
+    struct passwd *p;
+    int ret;
+
+    if (!user_name || g_strcmp0(user_name, g_get_user_name())) {
+        g_set_error(error, G_UNIX_ERROR, 0, "Invalid user name");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    p = g_new0(struct passwd, 1);
+    p->pw_dir = (char *)g_get_home_dir();
+    p->pw_uid = geteuid();
+    p->pw_gid = getegid();
+
+    ret = g_mkdir_with_parents(p->pw_dir, 0700);
+    g_assert(ret == 0);
+
+    return p;
+}
+
+#define g_unix_get_passwd_entry_qemu(username, err) \
+   test_get_passwd_entry(username, err)
+#endif
+
+static struct passwd *
+get_passwd_entry(const char *username, Error **errp)
+{
+    g_autoptr(GError) err = NULL;
+    struct passwd *p;
+
+    ERRP_GUARD();
+
+    p = g_unix_get_passwd_entry_qemu(username, &err);
+    if (p == NULL) {
+        error_setg(errp, "failed to lookup user '%s': %s",
+                   username, err->message);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    return p;
+}
+
+static bool
+mkdir_for_user(const char *path, const struct passwd *p,
+               mode_t mode, Error **errp)
+{
+    ERRP_GUARD();
+
+    if (g_mkdir(path, mode) == -1) {
+        error_setg(errp, "failed to create directory '%s': %s",
+                   path, g_strerror(errno));
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (chown(path, p->pw_uid, p->pw_gid) == -1) {
+        error_setg(errp, "failed to set ownership of directory '%s': %s",
+                   path, g_strerror(errno));
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (chmod(path, mode) == -1) {
+        error_setg(errp, "failed to set permissions of directory '%s': %s",
+                   path, g_strerror(errno));
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+check_openssh_pub_key(const char *key, Error **errp)
+{
+    ERRP_GUARD();
+
+    /* simple sanity-check, we may want more? */
+    if (!key || key[0] == '#' || strchr(key, '\n')) {
+        error_setg(errp, "invalid OpenSSH public key: '%s'", key);
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+check_openssh_pub_keys(strList *keys, size_t *nkeys, Error **errp)
+{
+    size_t n = 0;
+    strList *k;
+
+    ERRP_GUARD();
+
+    for (k = keys; k != NULL; k = k->next) {
+        if (!check_openssh_pub_key(k->value, errp)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        n++;
+    }
+
+    if (nkeys) {
+        *nkeys = n;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+static bool
+write_authkeys(const char *path, const GStrv keys,
+               const struct passwd *p, Error **errp)
+{
+    g_autofree char *contents = NULL;
+    g_autoptr(GError) err = NULL;
+
+    ERRP_GUARD();
+
+    contents = g_strjoinv("\n", keys);
+    if (!g_file_set_contents(path, contents, -1, &err)) {
+        error_setg(errp, "failed to write to '%s': %s", path, err->message);
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (chown(path, p->pw_uid, p->pw_gid) == -1) {
+        error_setg(errp, "failed to set ownership of directory '%s': %s",
+                   path, g_strerror(errno));
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (chmod(path, 0600) == -1) {
+        error_setg(errp, "failed to set permissions of '%s': %s",
+                   path, g_strerror(errno));
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+static GStrv
+read_authkeys(const char *path, Error **errp)
+{
+    g_autoptr(GError) err = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *contents = NULL;
+
+    ERRP_GUARD();
+
+    if (!g_file_get_contents(path, &contents, NULL, &err)) {
+        error_setg(errp, "failed to read '%s': %s", path, err->message);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    return g_strsplit(contents, "\n", -1);
+
+}
+
+void
+qmp_guest_ssh_add_authorized_keys(const char *username, strList *keys,
+                                  Error **errp)
+{
+    g_autofree struct passwd *p = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *ssh_path = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *authkeys_path = NULL;
+    g_auto(GStrv) authkeys = NULL;
+    strList *k;
+    size_t nkeys, nauthkeys;
+
+    ERRP_GUARD();
+
+    if (!check_openssh_pub_keys(keys, &nkeys, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    p = get_passwd_entry(username, errp);
+    if (p == NULL) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    ssh_path = g_build_filename(p->pw_dir, ".ssh", NULL);
+    authkeys_path = g_build_filename(ssh_path, "authorized_keys", NULL);
+
+    authkeys = read_authkeys(authkeys_path, NULL);
+    if (authkeys == NULL) {
+        if (!g_file_test(ssh_path, G_FILE_TEST_IS_DIR) &&
+            !mkdir_for_user(ssh_path, p, 0700, errp)) {
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+
+    nauthkeys = authkeys ? g_strv_length(authkeys) : 0;
+    authkeys = g_realloc_n(authkeys, nauthkeys + nkeys + 1, sizeof(char *));
+    memset(authkeys + nauthkeys, 0, (nkeys + 1) * sizeof(char *));
+
+    for (k = keys; k != NULL; k = k->next) {
+        if (g_strv_contains((const gchar * const *)authkeys, k->value)) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        authkeys[nauthkeys++] = g_strdup(k->value);
+    }
+
+    write_authkeys(authkeys_path, authkeys, p, errp);
+}
+
+void
+qmp_guest_ssh_remove_authorized_keys(const char *username, strList *keys,
+                                     Error **errp)
+{
+    g_autofree struct passwd *p = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *authkeys_path = NULL;
+    g_autofree GStrv new_keys = NULL; /* do not own the strings */
+    g_auto(GStrv) authkeys = NULL;
+    GStrv a;
+    size_t nkeys = 0;
+
+    ERRP_GUARD();
+
+    if (!check_openssh_pub_keys(keys, NULL, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    p = get_passwd_entry(username, errp);
+    if (p == NULL) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    authkeys_path = g_build_filename(p->pw_dir, ".ssh",
+                                     "authorized_keys", NULL);
+    if (!g_file_test(authkeys_path, G_FILE_TEST_EXISTS)) {
+        return;
+    }
+    authkeys = read_authkeys(authkeys_path, errp);
+    if (authkeys == NULL) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    new_keys = g_new0(char *, g_strv_length(authkeys) + 1);
+    for (a = authkeys; *a != NULL; a++) {
+        strList *k;
+
+        for (k = keys; k != NULL; k = k->next) {
+            if (g_str_equal(k->value, *a)) {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        if (k != NULL) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        new_keys[nkeys++] = *a;
+    }
+
+    write_authkeys(authkeys_path, new_keys, p, errp);
+}
+
+
+#ifdef QGA_BUILD_UNIT_TEST
+#if GLIB_CHECK_VERSION(2, 60, 0)
+static const strList test_key2 = {
+    .value = (char *)"algo key2 comments"
+};
+
+static const strList test_key1_2 = {
+    .value = (char *)"algo key1 comments",
+    .next = (strList *)&test_key2,
+};
+
+static char *
+test_get_authorized_keys_path(void)
+{
+    return g_build_filename(g_get_home_dir(), ".ssh", "authorized_keys", NULL);
+}
+
+static void
+test_authorized_keys_set(const char *contents)
+{
+    g_autoptr(GError) err = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *path = NULL;
+    int ret;
+
+    path = g_build_filename(g_get_home_dir(), ".ssh", NULL);
+    ret = g_mkdir_with_parents(path, 0700);
+    g_assert(ret == 0);
+    g_free(path);
+
+    path = test_get_authorized_keys_path();
+    g_file_set_contents(path, contents, -1, &err);
+    g_assert(err == NULL);
+}
+
+static void
+test_authorized_keys_equal(const char *expected)
+{
+    g_autoptr(GError) err = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *path = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *contents = NULL;
+
+    path = test_get_authorized_keys_path();
+    g_file_get_contents(path, &contents, NULL, &err);
+    g_assert(err == NULL);
+
+    g_assert(g_strcmp0(contents, expected) == 0);
+}
+
+static void
+test_invalid_user(void)
+{
+    Error *err = NULL;
+
+    qmp_guest_ssh_add_authorized_keys("", NULL, &err);
+    error_free_or_abort(&err);
+
+    qmp_guest_ssh_remove_authorized_keys("", NULL, &err);
+    error_free_or_abort(&err);
+}
+
+static void
+test_invalid_key(void)
+{
+    strList key = {
+        .value = (char *)"not a valid\nkey"
+    };
+    Error *err = NULL;
+
+    qmp_guest_ssh_add_authorized_keys(g_get_user_name(), &key, &err);
+    error_free_or_abort(&err);
+
+    qmp_guest_ssh_remove_authorized_keys(g_get_user_name(), &key, &err);
+    error_free_or_abort(&err);
+}
+
+static void
+test_add_keys(void)
+{
+    Error *err = NULL;
+
+    qmp_guest_ssh_add_authorized_keys(g_get_user_name(),
+                                      (strList *)&test_key2, &err);
+    g_assert(err == NULL);
+
+    test_authorized_keys_equal("algo key2 comments");
+
+    qmp_guest_ssh_add_authorized_keys(g_get_user_name(),
+                                      (strList *)&test_key1_2, &err);
+    g_assert(err == NULL);
+
+    /*  key2 came first, and should'nt be duplicated */
+    test_authorized_keys_equal("algo key2 comments\n"
+                               "algo key1 comments");
+}
+
+static void
+test_remove_keys(void)
+{
+    Error *err = NULL;
+    static const char *authkeys =
+        "algo key1 comments\n"
+        /* originally duplicated */
+        "algo key1 comments\n"
+        "# a commented line\n"
+        "algo some-key another\n";
+
+    test_authorized_keys_set(authkeys);
+    qmp_guest_ssh_remove_authorized_keys(g_get_user_name(),
+                                         (strList *)&test_key2, &err);
+    g_assert(err == NULL);
+    test_authorized_keys_equal(authkeys);
+
+    qmp_guest_ssh_remove_authorized_keys(g_get_user_name(),
+                                         (strList *)&test_key1_2, &err);
+    g_assert(err == NULL);
+    test_authorized_keys_equal("# a commented line\n"
+                               "algo some-key another\n");
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+    setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
+
+    g_test_init(&argc, &argv, G_TEST_OPTION_ISOLATE_DIRS, NULL);
+
+    g_test_add_func("/qga/ssh/invalid_user", test_invalid_user);
+    g_test_add_func("/qga/ssh/invalid_key", test_invalid_key);
+    g_test_add_func("/qga/ssh/add_keys", test_add_keys);
+    g_test_add_func("/qga/ssh/remove_keys", test_remove_keys);
+
+    return g_test_run();
+}
+#else
+int main(int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+    g_test_message("test skipped, needs glib >= 2.60");
+    return 0;
+}
+#endif /* GLIB_2_60 */
+#endif /* BUILD_UNIT_TEST */
diff --git a/qga/meson.build b/qga/meson.build
index cd08bd953a..635de9af41 100644
--- a/qga/meson.build
+++ b/qga/meson.build
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ qga_ss.add(files(
 ))
 qga_ss.add(when: 'CONFIG_POSIX', if_true: files(
   'channel-posix.c',
-  'commands-posix.c'))
+  'commands-posix.c',
+  'commands-posix-ssh.c',
+))
 qga_ss.add(when: 'CONFIG_WIN32', if_true: files(
   'channel-win32.c',
   'commands-win32.c',
@@ -87,3 +89,24 @@ else
 endif
 
 alias_target('qemu-ga', all_qga)
+
+test_env = environment()
+test_env.set('G_TEST_SRCDIR', meson.current_source_dir())
+test_env.set('G_TEST_BUILDDIR', meson.current_build_dir())
+
+# disable qga-ssh-test for now. glib's G_TEST_OPTION_ISOLATE_DIRS triggers
+# the leak detector in build-oss-fuzz Gitlab CI test. we should re-enable
+# this when an alternative is implemented or when the underlying glib
+# issue is identified/fix
+#if 'CONFIG_POSIX' in config_host
+if false
+  qga_ssh_test = executable('qga-ssh-test',
+                            files('commands-posix-ssh.c'),
+                            dependencies: [qemuutil],
+                            c_args: ['-DQGA_BUILD_UNIT_TEST'])
+
+  test('qga-ssh-test',
+       qga_ssh_test,
+       env: test_env,
+       suite: ['unit', 'qga'])
+endif
diff --git a/qga/qapi-schema.json b/qga/qapi-schema.json
index e123a000be..a2727ed86b 100644
--- a/qga/qapi-schema.json
+++ b/qga/qapi-schema.json
@@ -1346,3 +1346,38 @@
 ##
 { 'command': 'guest-get-devices',
   'returns': ['GuestDeviceInfo'] }
+
+##
+# @guest-ssh-add-authorized-keys:
+#
+# @username: the user account to add the authorized keys
+# @keys: the public keys to add (in OpenSSH/sshd(8) authorized_keys format)
+#
+# Append public keys to user .ssh/authorized_keys on Unix systems (not
+# implemented for other systems).
+#
+# Returns: Nothing on success.
+#
+# Since: 5.2
+##
+{ 'command': 'guest-ssh-add-authorized-keys',
+  'data': { 'username': 'str', 'keys': ['str'] },
+  'if': 'defined(CONFIG_POSIX)' }
+
+##
+# @guest-ssh-remove-authorized-keys:
+#
+# @username: the user account to remove the authorized keys
+# @keys: the public keys to remove (in OpenSSH/sshd(8) authorized_keys format)
+#
+# Remove public keys from the user .ssh/authorized_keys on Unix systems (not
+# implemented for other systems). It's not an error if the key is already
+# missing.
+#
+# Returns: Nothing on success.
+#
+# Since: 5.2
+##
+{ 'command': 'guest-ssh-remove-authorized-keys',
+  'data': { 'username': 'str', 'keys': ['str'] },
+  'if': 'defined(CONFIG_POSIX)' }