VulnerabilityAnalyzed

CVE-2026-81696

Attackers can craft malicious files containing escape sequences to repaint terminal output and forge verification information displayed to users.

CRITICAL 9.3EPSS 0.25%

Does this matter?

High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.25%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.

Description

openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.9 fail to sanitize terminal control characters in file metadata printed by the info command. Attackers can craft malicious files containing escape sequences to repaint terminal output and forge verification information displayed to users.

CVSS 4.0: 9.3 CRITICALCVSS:4.0/AV:N/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: 0.25% probability · 16th percentile
Public exploits: None in Exploit-DB
CISA KEV: Not listed
Weakness: CWE-117
Affected: jahlives/openssl encrypt
Source: disclosure@vulncheck.com

EPSS trend

EPSS 0.3% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.

References

https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-539p-fxf4-7fv8Vendor Advisory
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-terminal-injection-via-info-commandThird Party Advisory

Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.