CVE-2026-74888Network attack vector

Password cracking via non-standard PBKDF2 loop

Published Aug 17, 2026 · Updated Aug 17, 2026

Weak cryptography in PBKDF2 handling in jahlives openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 allows attackers to read data via offline password cracking. In openssl_encrypt/modules/crypt_core.py, the PBKDF2 loop feeds the prior output back into PBKDF2HMAC with iterations=1 on each outer-loop step, creating a custom derivation chain instead of standard PBKDF2 work factors. Exposure is limited to legacy encrypted files created with this construction; an attacker must obtain such files and then brute-force their passwords more efficiently than against a standard PBKDF2 implementation.

CVSS severity8.7
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Weak cryptography in PBKDF2 handling in jahlives openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 allows attackers to read data via offline password cracking. In openssl_encrypt/modules/crypt_core.py, the PBKDF2 loop feeds the prior output back into PBKDF2HMAC with iterations=1 on each outer-loop step, creating a custom derivation chain instead of standard PBKDF2 work factors. Exposure is limited to legacy encrypted files created with this construction; an attacker must obtain such files and then brute-force their passwords more efficiently than against a standard PBKDF2 implementation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74888
Published
Aug 17, 2026
Updated
Aug 17, 2026
Vendor
jahlives
Product
OpenSSL Encrypt
Classifications
CWE-327
Attack vector
network
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 <1.4.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

jahlives · OpenSSL Encryptversion=0 <1.4.0

Published CVSS scores

7.5VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
8.7VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA: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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-327Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm

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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