CVE-2026-74888

openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 use a non-standard PBKDF2 key derivation construction with iterations=1 per call in an outer loop, creating a KDF whose security properties have not been formally analyzed. Attackers can exploit this weakened key derivation to more efficiently crack passwords protecting legacy encrypted files compared to standard PBKDF2 implementations.

CVSS v3 7.5 HIGH

7.5^/10

CVSS v3 : HIGH

Vector :

Exploitability : 3.9 / Impact : 3.6

Attack Vector NETWORK

Attack Complexity LOW

Privileges Required NONE

User Interaction NONE

Confidentiality Impact HIGH

Integrity Impact NONE

Availability Impact NONE

Scope UNCHANGED

References

Link	Resource
https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-743f-89fg-x288	Vendor Advisory
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-non-standard-pbkdf2-key-derivation	Third Party Advisory

Configurations

Configuration 1 (hide)

cpe:2.3:a:jahlives:openssl_encrypt:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:*

History

No history.

Information

Published : 2026-08-17 11:16

Updated : 2026-09-01 15:26

NVD link : CVE-2026-74888

Mitre link : CVE-2026-74888

CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-74888

JSON object : View

Products Affected

jahlives

openssl_encrypt

CWE

CWE-327

Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm

{"id": "CVE-2026-74888", "cveTags": [], "metrics": {"ssvcV203": [{"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "ssvcData": {"id": "CVE-2026-74888", "role": "CISA Coordinator", "options": [{"exploitation": "none"}, {"automatable": "yes"}, {"technicalImpact": "partial"}], "version": "2.0.3", "timestamp": "2026-08-17T12:48:14.297282Z"}}], "cvssMetricV31": [{"type": "Secondary", "source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com", "cvssData": {"scope": "UNCHANGED", "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 7.5, "attackVector": "NETWORK", "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N", "integrityImpact": "NONE", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "availabilityImpact": "NONE", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"}, "impactScore": 3.6, "exploitabilityScore": 3.9}], "cvssMetricV40": [{"type": "Secondary", "source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com", "cvssData": {"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED", "version": "4.0", "Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED", "baseScore": 8.7, "Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED", "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/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", "exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED", "providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackRequirements": "NONE", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE", "vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE", "integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED", "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE", "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "NONE", "availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED", "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE", "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED"}}]}, "affected": [{"source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com", "affectedData": [{"vendor": "jahlives", "product": "openssl_encrypt", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "0", "lessThan": "1.4.0", "versionType": "semver"}, {"status": "unaffected", "version": "1.4.0", "versionType": "semver"}], "packageURL": "pkg:pypi/openssl_encrypt", "defaultStatus": "unaffected"}]}], "published": "2026-08-17T11:16:43.653", "references": [{"url": "https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-743f-89fg-x288", "tags": ["Vendor Advisory"], "source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com"}, {"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-non-standard-pbkdf2-key-derivation", "tags": ["Third Party Advisory"], "source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com"}], "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "weaknesses": [{"type": "Secondary", "source": "disclosure@vulncheck.com", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-327"}]}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 use a non-standard PBKDF2 key derivation construction with iterations=1 per call in an outer loop, creating a KDF whose security properties have not been formally analyzed. Attackers can exploit this weakened key derivation to more efficiently crack passwords protecting legacy encrypted files compared to standard PBKDF2 implementations."}], "lastModified": "2026-09-01T15:26:41.833", "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:jahlives:openssl_encrypt:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:*", "vulnerable": true, "matchCriteriaId": "A36F4452-E3EE-4AB3-946E-C4B923C22C70", "versionEndExcluding": "1.4.0"}], "operator": "OR"}]}], "sourceIdentifier": "disclosure@vulncheck.com"}