openssl-encrypt before 1.4.9 Password Cleartext Leak via Debug
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-532.
Summary
openssl-encrypt before 1.4.9 fails to redact the file password in its --debug argv dump when the password is supplied via bundled short-option spellings (e.g. -apHunter2) or abbreviated long-option spellings (e.g. --passw). The sanitizer only recognized exact option names, --option=value forms, and tokens starting with -p, so these spellings bypass the redaction chokepoint and the cleartext password is written to stderr. Anyone with access to that output (terminal scrollback, merged 2>&1 output, CI job logs, or the GUI's persistent debug log) can recover the password.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA openssl_encrypt (jahlives) Fixed in 1.4.9
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
jahlives openssl_encrypt 1.4.9
36 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 24 MEDIUM, 12 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-56361 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 ANSI Escape Injection via Identity EmailPriority MEDIUM 49
- TI-2026-56355 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 Arbitrary Code Execution via unsigned pluginPriority MEDIUM 48
- TI-2026-56354 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 GPG Signature Verification BypassPriority MEDIUM 48
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-81705
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qvh5-87jf-4g7p
References
More jahlives Openssl Encrypt vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-52616 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Sandbox Escape via Type Hierarchy CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2026-52615 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Sandbox Escape via Dunder Attribute Traversal CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2026-52602 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Sandbox Bypass via pathlib and io CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2026-52617 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Weak Shared Secret via PQC Simulation Mode CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2026-52614 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Plugin Sandbox Bypass via Process Isolation CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2026-52613 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Authentication Bypass via Bearer Token CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-81705 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-81705 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qvh5-87jf-4g7p · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences