Description
openssl_encrypt (pip package openssl-encrypt) versions <= 1.4.8 advertise a portable USB workspace as an 'Encrypted USB Workspace' with AES-256-GCM encryption and write a marker declaring the workspace encrypted, but the workspace directory is actually stored in cleartext and the derived encryption key is never applied to it. A user who trusts the branding and places files in the workspace leaves them unencrypted on the removable media, so an attacker with physical access to the media can read the sensitive files. Fixed in 1.4.9, which seals the workspace into an authenticated AES-256-GCM vault.
Published: 2026-08-27
Score: 9.3 Critical
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Jahlives
Jahlives openssl Encrypt
Vendors & Products Jahlives
Jahlives openssl Encrypt
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description openssl_encrypt (pip package openssl-encrypt) versions <= 1.4.8 advertise a portable USB workspace as an 'Encrypted USB Workspace' with AES-256-GCM encryption and write a marker declaring the workspace encrypted, but the workspace directory is actually stored in cleartext and the derived encryption key is never applied to it. A user who trusts the branding and places files in the workspace leaves them unencrypted on the removable media, so an attacker with physical access to the media can read the sensitive files. Fixed in 1.4.9, which seals the workspace into an authenticated AES-256-GCM vault.
Title openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 False Encryption via Cleartext Storage
Weaknesses CWE-311
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

cvssV4_0

{'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'}


Subscriptions

Jahlives Openssl Encrypt
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-27T17:51:05.736Z

Reserved: 2026-08-27T11:11:30.933Z

Link: CVE-2026-81681

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-27T17:51:00.984Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-27T17:20:57.453

Modified: 2026-08-27T20:18:52.037

Link: CVE-2026-81681

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-27T18:45:04Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-311

    Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data