CVE-2026-81681 json
openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 False Encryption via Cleartext Storage
published 2mo ago modified last mo. also EUVD-2026-67037 , GHSA-2jv6-qqfm-m46m , PYSEC-2026-3791
- cvss
- 4.6
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 0.2%
- EPSS 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 6%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
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.
Patch / fix
- pypi openssl-encrypt 1.4.9
- jahlives openssl_encrypt 1.4.9
Is CVE-2026-81681 in your dependencies? Fencer shows which of your repositories are affected as soon as an advisory lands, and opens the fix as a pull request.
Check with FencerCISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
- Assessed
- 2mo ago
Exploit prediction
0.17% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 6% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-11).
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | 4.0 | 9.3 | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |
| CNA | 3.1 | 4.6 | CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N |
| CNA | 4.0 | 9.3 | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X |
Affected packages
| ecosystem | package | affected | fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| pypi | openssl-encrypt | <1.4.9 |
1.4.9 |
Affected products
- jahlives openssl_encrypt
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-311 Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data
References
-
github.com
/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-2jv6-qqfm-m46m
vendor-advisory, advisory
-
vulncheck.com
/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-false-encryption-via-cleartext-storage
third-party-advisory, advisory
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2026-81681
- NVD CVE-2026-81681
- OSV PYSEC-2026-3791
- Maintainer advisory GHSA-2jv6-qqfm-m46m
Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.
The maintainers of jahlives/openssl_encrypt published their own advisory on GitHub. Reviewed sources take precedence over it.