Vulnerability in openssl_encrypt (CVE-2026-81697)
Summary
Vulnerability in openssl_encrypt (CVE-2026-81697). Data can be tampered with by attackers. 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 contain a CWD-relative configuration file resolution flaw in crypt_settings.py, where CONFIG_FILE (originally the absolute per-user path ~/.crypt_settings.json) is reassigned at line 84 to the bare relative name 'crypt_settings.json'. As a result, the legacy Tk GUI's SettingsTab reads and writes KDF settings from crypt_settings.json in the process launch (current working) directory instead of the user's home directory. An attacker who plants a malicious crypt_settings.json (e.g. sha256:1 with all memory-hard KDFs disabled) can silently downgrade encryption performed in that GUI session to roughly one hash round, bypassing the weak-KDF preflight and enabling offline brute-force attacks against the resulting ciphertext. Fixed in 1.4.9.
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-2026-81697 has been found in openssl_encrypt.
Data can be tampered with by attackers. CVSS score: 5.5/10.
What to do: upgrade openssl_encrypt to 1.4.9 or later.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "openssl_encrypt CVE-2026-81697" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-81697 (openssl_encrypt) — CWE-426 / CVSS v3 5.5
Attack vector: local / unauthenticated
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-426) exists in openssl_encrypt.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of openssl_encrypt.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 5.5/10). Data can be tampered with by attackers.
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。
References
- web disclosure@vulncheck.com
- web disclosure@vulncheck.com
- web nvd.nist.gov
- web github.com