Vulnerability in openssl_encrypt (CVE-2026-81681)
Summary
Vulnerability in openssl_encrypt (CVE-2026-81681). Confidential information can be exposed externally. Mitigation: upgrade to 1.4.9 or later.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
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.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD GitHub Advisory
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-81681 has been found in openssl_encrypt.
Confidential information can be exposed externally. CVSS score: 4.6/10.
What to do: upgrade openssl_encrypt to 1.4.9 or later.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "openssl_encrypt CVE-2026-81681" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-81681 (openssl_encrypt) — CWE-311 / CVSS v3 4.6
Attack vector: physical / unauthenticated / no user interaction
Patched: 1.4.9 — apply immediately
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
A vulnerability (CWE-311) exists in openssl_encrypt.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of openssl_encrypt.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 4.6/10). Confidential information can be exposed externally.
Update to 1.4.9.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Run grep -r 'openssl_encrypt' . against your dependency files (package-lock.json, requirements.txt, go.sum) to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
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1Identify exposure identify
grep -r 'openssl_encrypt' . | grep -v node_modulesリポジトリと本番環境の依存ファイル (package-lock.json / requirements.txt / go.sum / Gemfile.lock 等) で
openssl_encryptを grep し、稼働しているサービス・バージョンを把握する。 -
2Apply patch patch
Upgrade openssl_encrypt to 1.4.9ステージング環境で 1.4.9 に上げて回帰テスト → 本番反映。回帰テストはアプリの主要ハッピーパスを含めること。
-
3Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
References
- advisory github.com
- advisory vulncheck.com
- web nvd.nist.gov
- web github.com