CVE-2026-81681 CRITICAL

CVE-2026-81681: openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 False Encryption via Cleartext Storage

Vendor Jahlives
Product openssl_encrypt
Weakness CWE-311 · Missing encryption
Published August 27, 2026
Last update August 27, 2026

CVSS base score

9.3/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required None
User interaction None
Confidentiality
Integrity

CVSS vector

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

What the vulnerability does

01Description

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.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

August 27, 2026 CVE published
August 27, 2026 Record updated