CVE-2026-74888 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Non-Standard PBKDF2 Key Derivation

What is CVE-2026-74888?

CVE-2026-74888 is a high-severity 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 use a non-standard PBKDF2 key derivation construction with iterations=1 per call in an outer loop, creating a KDF whose security properties have not been formally analyzed. Attackers can exploit this weakened key derivation to more efficiently crack passwords protecting legacy encrypted files compared to standard PBKDF2 implementations.

Weakness: CWE-327

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-74888?

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

Products include Jahlives Openssl Encrypt.

How do I fix CVE-2026-74888?

Upgrade openssl-encrypt to 1.4.0 or later.

Is CVE-2026-74888 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-74888 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Jahlives Openssl Encrypt

• CVE-2026-81680 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 Authentication Bypass via Recovery Slot Removal Critical 9.3
• CVE-2026-81681 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 False Encryption via Cleartext Storage Critical 9.3
• CVE-2026-81685 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 Text Injection via Recovery Slot Metadata Critical 9.3
• CVE-2026-81694 openssl-encrypt before 1.4.9 Output Injection via Unsanitized Filenames in verify-usb Command Critical 9.3
• CVE-2026-81695 openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 Terminal Injection via key_id Critical 9.3

All Jahlives Openssl Encrypt vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as GHSA-743f-89fg-x288, GHSA-m7fg-4j92-vghm, PYSEC-2026-3764.