CVE-2026-81680

critical

Description

openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.9 fail to authenticate recovery-slot presence in envelope-format encrypted files, allowing attackers to remove recovery slots without re-encrypting the payload. Attackers can modify the file header to delete recovery-slot fields and bypass authentication, silently removing recovery paths the owner deliberately added.

References

https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-authentication-bypass-via-recovery-slot-removal

https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-grhj-cpmg-f5mx

Details

Source: Mitre, NVD

Published: 2026-08-27

Updated: 2026-08-28

Risk Information

CVSS v2

Base Score: 2.1

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N

Severity: Low

CVSS v3

Base Score: 4

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

Severity: Medium

CVSS v4

Base Score: 9.3

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

Severity: Critical

EPSS

EPSS: 0.00155