by Kastro
Paper/Archive/CVE-2026-81681

CVE-2026-81681

jahlives openssl_encrypt — openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 False Encryption via Cleartext Storage

EPSS 0.2%CVSS 9.3
critical.is priorityof 100
29
CVSS 9.3 (CNA)9.3 / 10 × 3027.9Not in CISA KEV+300.0EPSS percentile 6.6.066 × 201.3No public exploit+100.0SSVC exploitation: none+100.0
Description · from the CVE record

openssl_encrypt (pip package openssl-encrypt) versions <= 1.4.8 advertise a portable USB workspace as an 'Encrypted USB Workspace' with AES-256-GCM encryption and write a marker declaring the workspace encrypted, but the workspace directory is actually stored in cleartext and the derived encryption key is never applied to it. A user who trusts the branding and places files in the workspace leaves them unencrypted on the removable media, so an attacker with physical access to the media can read the sensitive files. Fixed in 1.4.9, which seals the workspace into an authenticated AES-256-GCM vault.

Affected

ProductAffectedFixed inSource
openssl_encrypt< 1.4.91.4.9CNA

Scores by source

VulnCheck (CNA)9.3CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
VulnCheck (CNA)4.6CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CISA ADPSSVCExploitation: none · Automatable: no · Technical impact: partial

References

advisorygithub.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-2jv6-qqfm-m46mwriteupvulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-false-encryption-via-cleartext-storage