openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 KDF Downgrade via CWD-relative Configuration
openssl_encrypt (pip package openssl-encrypt) versions <= 1.4.8 contain a CWD-relative configuration file resolution flaw in crypt_settings.py, where CONFIG_FILE (originally the absolute per-user path ~/.crypt_settings.json) is reassigned at line 84 to the bare relative name 'crypt_settings.json'. As a result, the legacy Tk GUI's SettingsTab reads and writes KDF settings from crypt_settings.json in the process launch (current working) directory instead of the user's home directory. An attacker who plants a malicious crypt_settings.json (e.g. sha256:1 with all memory-hard KDFs disabled) can silently downgrade encryption performed in that GUI session to roughly one hash round, bypassing the weak-KDF preflight and enabling offline brute-force attacks against the resulting ciphertext. Fixed in 1.4.9.
CVE-2026-81697
Primary source · Revision 1
Imported from structured advisory data. Source references identify upstream records or fields; verify affected versions and your deployed configuration.
Security context
Source reference: cve:CVE-2026-81697
openssl_encrypt
Source reference: /containers/cna/affected/0/product
- Affected versions
- Not stated in this record
- Fixed versions
- Not stated in this record
- Prerequisites
- Not stated in this record
Structured affected-version data
Original package identities and version rules from this source.
[
{
"vendor": "jahlives",
"product": "openssl_encrypt",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "0",
"lessThan": "1.4.9",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "1.4.9",
"versionType": "semver"
}
],
"packageURL": "pkg:pypi/openssl-encrypt",
"defaultStatus": "unaffected"
}
]- Related CVEs
- CVE-2026-81697
Source reference:
/cveMetadata/cveId
Publisher severity
high
Source reference: /containers/cna/metrics
- Event
- #5551 · Revision 1
- Added to Heist Feed
- Publisher date