openssl-encrypt has visible password in process list via --password CLI argument
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub. Impact type from CWE-256.
Summary
### Summary Passwords passed via the `--password` / `-p` CLI argument in `openssl_encrypt/modules/crypt_cli_subparser.py` at **lines 150-154** are visible to any user on the system via `ps aux` or `/proc/[pid]/cmdline`. ### Affected Code ```python subparser.add_argument( "--password", "-p", help="Password (will prompt if not provided, or use CRYPT_PASSWORD environment variable)", ) ``` Similarly, `--keystore-password` exposes the keystore password. ### Impact On multi-user systems, any user can observe the encryption password by listing processes. The `CRYPT_PASSWORD` environment variable alternative is also visible via `/proc/[pid]/environ` (though with slightly restricted access). ### Recommended Fix - Document the security implications prominently - Recommend interactive prompting (already supported) as the secure default - Consider supporting password file descriptors (`--password-fd`) or reading from stdin - Consider marking the argument as deprecated in favor of interactive prompting ### Fix Fixed in commit `e78a366` on branch `releases/1.4.x` — added --password-file and --password-fd arguments; added OPENSSL_ENCRYPT_PASSWORD env var support; --password now emits deprecation warning.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | openssl-encrypt (PyPI) | before 1.4.0 | 1.4.0 | Patch available | GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p |
- openssl-encrypt (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 1.4.0 Fixed in 1.4.0 Patch available GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p openssl-encrypt (PyPI) Fixed in 1.4.0 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p
References
Sources
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