VulnerabilityAnalyzed

CVE-2026-81683

A local attacker with file system access can read the exposed private key.

HIGH 8.6EPSS 0.05%

Does this matter?

High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.05%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.

Description

openssl_encrypt (pip package openssl-encrypt) versions 1.4.8 and earlier store an mTLS client private key in cleartext within a world-readable (0644) SharedPreferences file via the desktop GUI's Settings screen 'combined certificate and private key' PEM field. A local attacker with file system access can read the exposed private key. Version 1.4.9 writes the PEM to a dedicated 0600 file, keeps only its path in SharedPreferences, and migrates/scrubs existing cleartext values.

CVSS 4.0: 8.6 HIGHCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/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/M
EPSS: 0.05% probability · 0th percentile
CISA KEV: Not listed
Weakness: CWE-312
Affected: jahlives/openssl encrypt
Source: disclosure@vulncheck.com

References

https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-r8gw-6hfj-98jwVendor Advisory
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-plaintext-private-key-storageThird Party Advisory

Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.