CVE-2026-81701

critical

Description

openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.9 use a denylist to identify trusted built-in plugins, allowing unsigned plugins in top-level plugins/ directories and unknown subdirectories to bypass signature verification. Attackers can place malicious unsigned plugins following documented installation paths to achieve arbitrary code execution in the CLI process with access to passwords and cryptographic keys.

References

https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-arbitrary-code-execution-via-unsigned-plugin

https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-wxx9-p55f-wm34

Details

Source: Mitre, NVD

Published: 2026-08-27

Updated: 2026-08-28

Risk Information

CVSS v2

Base Score: 10

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

Severity: Critical

CVSS v3

Base Score: 9.8

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

Severity: Critical

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: 0.00308