# CVE-2026-81685: openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 Text Injection via Recovery Slot Metadata

> Attackers can inject control characters into recovery slot metadata to forge warning text in the desktop GUI, deceiving users during file removal.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 27 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 1 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-49h2-qmcq-wvvc, GHSA-qp5w-w4gh-6jc5, PYSEC-2026-3793

## What is CVE-2026-81685?

CVE-2026-81685 is a critical vulnerability in Jahlives Openssl Encrypt, published on 27 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 1.4.9 fail to sanitize recovery-slot metadata in the desktop GUI, allowing attackers to inject control characters and line separators into the irreversible-removal confirmation dialog. Attackers can craft encrypted files with malicious slot identifiers containing bidi overrides or line-separator characters to forge warning text and deceive users during file removal operations.

Weakness: CWE-116 (Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-81685?

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


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `openssl-encrypt` | PyPI | All versions | 1.4.9 |

Products: Jahlives Openssl Encrypt.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-81685?

Upgrade openssl-encrypt to 1.4.9 or later.

## Is CVE-2026-81685 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-81685 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Jahlives Openssl Encrypt

- [CVE-2026-81680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81680/): openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 Authentication Bypass via Recovery Slot Removal (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2026-81681](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81681/): openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 False Encryption via Cleartext Storage (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2026-81694](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81694/): openssl-encrypt before 1.4.9 Output Injection via Unsanitized Filenames in verify-usb Command (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2026-81695](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81695/): openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 Terminal Injection via key_id (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2026-81696](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81696/): openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 Terminal Injection via info Command (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-81685 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-81685 is a critical vulnerability in Jahlives Openssl Encrypt, published on 27 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-81685 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- openssl-encrypt (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 1.4.9

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81685/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81685/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-81685
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-81685
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-81685

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81685/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.