CVE-2026-74871

Offline password cracking via canceled KDF stage

Published Aug 17, 2026 · Updated Aug 17, 2026

Key-derivation bypass in jahlives OpenSSL Encrypt before 1.4.6 allows attackers to speed offline password cracking via XOR mode. In sequential XOR composition, the derivation code appends the final chain value even though it already matches the last stage snapshot, so the last KDF stage XORs away and contributes nothing to the key. The issue is exploitable only for non-default files created with --xor, exactly one KDF, and no prior hash stage; in that case, protection collapses to cheap SHA-256-based guessing instead of the configured memory-hard cost.

CVSS severity6.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.08%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Key-derivation bypass in jahlives OpenSSL Encrypt before 1.4.6 allows attackers to speed offline password cracking via XOR mode. In sequential XOR composition, the derivation code appends the final chain value even though it already matches the last stage snapshot, so the last KDF stage XORs away and contributes nothing to the key. The issue is exploitable only for non-default files created with --xor, exactly one KDF, and no prior hash stage; in that case, protection collapses to cheap SHA-256-based guessing instead of the configured memory-hard cost.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74871
Published
Aug 17, 2026
Updated
Aug 17, 2026
Vendor
jahlives
Product
OpenSSL Encrypt
Classifications
CWE-916, T1110.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 17, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 17, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <1.4.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

jahlives · OpenSSL Encryptversion=0 <1.4.6

Published CVSS scores

6.9VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
6.2VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-916Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort
T1110.002Password Cracking

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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