Medium 5.5Published Aug 27, 2026

CVE-2026-81697openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 KDF Downgrade via CWD-relative Configuration

Updated under an hour ago (2026-10-19 07:10 UTC)

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No exploitation reported and no EPSS estimate yet.

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Every CVE for jahlives openssl_encrypt

Exploited in the last 30 days

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.

CVSS: 5.5 MEDIUM (v3.1, CNA)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Weakness (CWE): CWE-426
Known exploited: Not in CISA's KEV catalog
EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days): Not loaded for this CVE
Assigned by: VulnCheck
NVD analysis: Deferred
Record last updated: Oct 1, 2026
First seen by InfoSec Signals: Oct 9, 2026

Affected products

Affected products

jahlives openssl_encrypt jahlives:openssl_encrypt (from the name)	before 1.4.9; 1.4.9 not affected	CNA record

References

https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-7j2v-g84w-m75vvendor-advisory
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-kdf-downgrade-via-cwd-relative-configurationthird-party-advisory

The CVE record on cve.org NVD's entry

The CVE record is authoritative. Products marked “from the name” were identified from the CNA's free-text names, not a CPE, and are matched less certainly. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.