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.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
References
History
Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:30:00 +0000
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ssvc
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Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:00:00 +0000
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Jahlives
Jahlives openssl Encrypt |
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| Vendors & Products |
Jahlives
Jahlives openssl Encrypt |
Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:45:00 +0000
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| Description | 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. | |
| Title | openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 KDF Downgrade via CWD-relative Configuration | |
| Weaknesses | CWE-426 | |
| References |
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| Metrics |
cvssV3_1
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Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: VulnCheck
Published: 2026-08-27T14:51:00.542Z
Updated: 2026-08-31T15:58:24.498Z
Reserved: 2026-08-27T11:12:00.890Z
Link: CVE-2026-81697
Updated: 2026-08-31T15:58:18.684Z
Status : Received
Published: 2026-08-27T17:20:59.893
Modified: 2026-08-31T16:19:16.217
Link: CVE-2026-81697
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