VulnerabilityAnalyzed

CVE-2026-81690

openssl-encrypt (pip package) before 1.4.9 contains a symlink-following flaw in its verify-usb v2 added-file allowlist scan.

HIGH 8.7EPSS 0.49%

Does this matter?

High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.49%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.

Description

openssl-encrypt (pip package) before 1.4.9 contains a symlink-following flaw in its verify-usb v2 added-file allowlist scan. The scan enumerated the drive with rglob(), which in CPython does not descend into symlinked directories and treats the symlink as an ordinary directory, while O_NOFOLLOW on the hash side binds only the final path component. An evil-maid attacker with physical access to the removable drive could replace a tool-tree directory with a symlink to a copy containing byte-identical files plus a planted __pycache__/*.pyc file (which CPython loads in preference to recompiling the clean .py). The planted file is never enumerated, added_files stays 0, and verify-usb reports PASSED, resulting in code execution when the victim runs the portable install. Fixed in 1.4.9 (affects both 1.4.x and 1.5.x lines).

CVSS 4.0: 8.7 HIGHCVSS:4.0/AV:N/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/M
EPSS: 0.49% probability · 41th percentile
CISA KEV: Not listed
Weakness: CWE-59
Affected: jahlives/openssl encrypt
Source: disclosure@vulncheck.com

References

https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-hw7h-wqf5-6crxVendor Advisory
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/verify-usb-before-1.4.9-symlink-directory-traversal-code-executionThird Party Advisory

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