Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD.
CVSS VectorNVD
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Lifecycle Timeline
3DescriptionCVE.org
KeePassXC OpenSSL Configuration Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of KeePassXC. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the configuration of OpenSSL. The product loads configuration from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of KeePassXC when run by a target user on the system. Was ZDI-CAN-29156.
AnalysisAI
Local privilege escalation in KeePassXC password manager allows authenticated attackers with low privileges to execute arbitrary code by exploiting insecure OpenSSL configuration file loading. When a target user launches KeePassXC, malicious configuration planted in an unsecured path is loaded, enabling code execution in KeePassXC's security context. Attack requires user interaction and prior low-privileged access. CVSS 7.3 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R). No public exploit identified at time of analysis.
Technical ContextAI
Root cause is CWE-427 uncontrolled search path element in OpenSSL configuration loading. KeePassXC reads OpenSSL config from attacker-writable locations before secure paths, allowing DLL hijacking or configuration injection. Affects cpe:2.3:a:keepassxc:keepassxc, requiring local file system access and social engineering to trigger execution.
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patch available per GitHub security advisory GHSA-4gr2-cr97-q9fx at https://github.com/keepassxreboot/keepassxc/security/advisories/GHSA-4gr2-cr97-q9fx. Users should immediately upgrade to latest patched KeePassXC release identified in advisory. Until patching, mitigate by restricting write permissions on OpenSSL configuration search paths, running KeePassXC under least-privilege accounts, and avoiding execution from untrusted directories. Organizations should audit file system permissions on multi-user systems where KeePassXC is deployed. Monitor vendor advisory and ZDI-26-215 at https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-215/ for technical details and coordinated disclosure timeline.
The (1) TLS and (2) DTLS implementations in OpenSSL 1.0.1 before 1.0.1g do not properly handle Heartbeat Extension packe
The dtls1_reassemble_fragment function in d1_both.c in OpenSSL before 0.9.8za, 1.0.0 before 1.0.0m, and 1.0.1 before 1.0
OpenSSL before 0.9.8za, 1.0.0 before 1.0.0m, and 1.0.1 before 1.0.1h does not properly restrict processing of ChangeCiph
The SSLv2 protocol, as used in OpenSSL before 1.0.1s and 1.0.2 before 1.0.2g and other products, requires a server to se
The ssl3_get_key_exchange function in s3_clnt.c in OpenSSL before 0.9.8zd, 1.0.0 before 1.0.0p, and 1.0.1 before 1.0.1k
The SSL protocol 3.0, as used in OpenSSL through 1.0.1i and other products, uses nondeterministic CBC padding, which mak
The AES-NI implementation in OpenSSL before 1.0.1t and 1.0.2 before 1.0.2h does not consider memory allocation during a
The X509_verify_cert function in crypto/x509/x509_vfy.c in OpenSSL 1.0.1n, 1.0.1o, 1.0.2b, and 1.0.2c does not properly
A buffer overrun can be triggered in X.509 certificate verification, specifically in name constraint checking. Rated hig
The ssl3_send_client_key_exchange function in s3_clnt.c in OpenSSL before 0.9.8za, 1.0.0 before 1.0.0m, and 1.0.1 before
In OpenSSL 1.1.0 before 1.1.0d, if a malicious server supplies bad parameters for a DHE or ECDHE key exchange then this
A denial of service flaw was found in OpenSSL 0.9.8, 1.0.1, 1.0.2 through 1.0.2h, and 1.1.0 in the way the TLS/SSL proto
Same weakness CWE-427 – Uncontrolled Search Path Element
View allVendor StatusVendor
SUSE
Severity: HighShare
External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-21645