Skip to main content

openssl-encrypt CVE-2026-81684

| EUVDEUVD-2026-67040 MEDIUM
Invocation of Process Using Visible Sensitive Information (CWE-214)
2026-08-27 VulnCheck GHSA-82vg-rggx-556v
6.9
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: VulnCheck
Share

Severity by source

Vendor (VulnCheck) PRIMARY
6.9 MEDIUM
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
vuln.today AI
5.5 MEDIUM

Local vector, low complexity; no attacker privileges needed to read /proc, but victim must actively run the GUI and invoke the steganography feature for the subprocess to exist.

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (VulnCheck).

CVSS VectorVendor: VulnCheck

CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
X

Lifecycle Timeline

3
Analysis Generated
Aug 27, 2026 - 18:16 vuln.today
Patch available
Aug 27, 2026 - 18:02 EUVD
CVE Published
Aug 27, 2026 - 14:50 cve.org
MEDIUM 6.9

DescriptionCVE.org

In openssl_encrypt (pip package openssl-encrypt) versions <= 1.4.8, the desktop GUI passes the steganography password to the CLI child process on the command line via the --stego-password argument (on both encrypt and decrypt paths) instead of via an environment variable as done for the main password. Any local user can read the steganography password from /proc/<pid>/cmdline for the lifetime of the subprocess. Fixed in 1.4.9.

AnalysisAI

Local information disclosure in the openssl-encrypt pip package (versions ≤ 1.4.8) exposes steganography passwords to all unprivileged users on the same Linux host. When the desktop GUI initiates an encrypt or decrypt operation involving the steganography feature, it spawns a CLI child process with the password supplied as the --stego-password command-line argument rather than via an environment variable, making it readable from /proc/<pid>/cmdline for the entire subprocess lifetime by any local user. …

Unlock full vulnerability intelligence

  • Risk assessment & exploitation conditions
  • Attack chain visualization
  • Remediation with exact patch versions
  • Threat intelligence from 22 sources
  • Personal watchlist & email alerts

Free forever · No credit card required

Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata

Access
Gain local shell on target host
Delivery
Monitor /proc for openssl-encrypt child subprocess
Exploit
Read /proc/<pid>/cmdline during subprocess lifetime
Execution
Extract plaintext --stego-password value
Impact
Access or decrypt steganographically hidden data

Vulnerability AssessmentAI

Exploitation Exploitation requires an existing local user account on the Linux host where openssl-encrypt is installed. … Additional conditions and limiting factors are described in the full assessment.
Risk Assessment The CVSS 4.0 score of 6.9 with vector AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N reflects a locally exploitable confidentiality-only vulnerability. … Full risk analysis with EPSS, KEV, and SSVC signal comparison available after sign-in.
Exploit Scenario A local attacker with a shell session on a multi-user Linux host runs a polling loop against /proc watching for an openssl-encrypt child process, then reads `/proc/<pid>/cmdline` during that subprocess's lifetime to extract the `--stego-password` value in plaintext. The entire attack is achievable with standard Linux utilities (e.g., `grep -r stego-password /proc/*/cmdline` on a polling loop) and requires no elevated privileges. …
Remediation Upgrade openssl-encrypt to version 1.4.9 or later, which resolves the issue by routing the steganography password through an environment variable consistent with the existing handling of the main password. … Detailed patch versions, workarounds, and compensating controls in full report.

Threat intelligence, references, and detailed analysis are available after sign-in.

CVE-2014-0160 HIGH POC
7.5 Apr 07

The (1) TLS and (2) DTLS implementations in OpenSSL 1.0.1 before 1.0.1g do not properly handle Heartbeat Extension packe

CVE-2014-0195 MEDIUM POC
6.8 Jun 05

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

CVE-2014-0224 HIGH POC
7.4 Jun 05

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

CVE-2016-0800 MEDIUM POC
5.9 Mar 01

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

CVE-2015-0204 MEDIUM POC
4.3 Jan 09

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

CVE-2014-3566 LOW POC
3.4 Oct 15

The SSL protocol 3.0, as used in OpenSSL through 1.0.1i and other products, uses nondeterministic CBC padding, which mak

CVE-2016-2107 MEDIUM POC
5.9 May 05

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

CVE-2015-1793 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Jul 09

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

CVE-2022-3602 HIGH
7.5 Nov 01

A buffer overrun can be triggered in X.509 certificate verification, specifically in name constraint checking. Rated hig

CVE-2014-3470 MEDIUM
4.3 Jun 05

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

CVE-2017-3730 HIGH POC
7.5 May 04

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

CVE-2016-8610 HIGH
7.5 Nov 13

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

Share

CVE-2026-81684 vulnerability details – vuln.today

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy