CVE-2026-74872 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Arbitrary Code Execution via Whirlpool

Critical 9.3 Published 17 Aug 2026 Updated 8 Oct 2026

Attackers can execute arbitrary native code by placing malicious shared objects in site-packages due to unsafe module loading in the Whirlpool hash implementation.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: Available

What is CVE-2026-74872?

CVE-2026-74872 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Jahlives Openssl Encrypt, published on 17 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain an arbitrary code execution vulnerability in the Whirlpool hash implementation that uses broad glob patterns to load .so modules without integrity verification. Attackers can place malicious .so files matching the whirlpool*py313*.so pattern in site-packages directories to achieve native code execution when the module is loaded.

Weakness: CWE-426

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-74872?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including openssl-encrypt. It affects 1 product.

Package	Affected	Fixed in
`openssl-encrypt` PyPI	All versions	`1.4.0`
`openssl-encrypt` PyPI	All versions	`1.4.0`
`openssl-encrypt` PyPI	All versions	`1.4.0`

Products include Jahlives Openssl Encrypt.

How do I fix CVE-2026-74872?

Upgrade openssl-encrypt to 1.4.0 or later.

Upgrade, and never evaluate templates, expressions or code built from user input. More about Code injection.

Is CVE-2026-74872 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-74872 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Jahlives Openssl Encrypt vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-ccp9-5g7c-pj86, GHSA-j48q-4c78-rhf9, PYSEC-2026-3742.