openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 Denial of Service via KDF
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-400.
Summary
openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 fails to validate KDF cost parameters in encrypted file metadata and keystore headers, allowing attackers to trigger unbounded memory allocation. Attackers can craft malicious encrypted files declaring arbitrarily large Argon2, scrypt, or balloon KDF parameters to exhaust system memory and crash the process without authentication.
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-2026-81721
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-9pph-4h37-568j
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-2026-81721 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-81721 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-9pph-4h37-568j · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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