CVE-2026-81697Hinoki check available

Ciphertext weakening via CWD-relative KDF configuration

Published Aug 27, 2026 · Updated Aug 27, 2026

KDF downgrade in OpenSSL Encrypt 1.4.8 and earlier allows local users to weaken GUI-created ciphertext via a planted configuration file. crypt_settings.py reassigns CONFIG_FILE from the absolute per-user path to crypt_settings.json, causing SettingsTab to trust KDF values in the launch directory. Exploitation requires the legacy Tk GUI to launch from an attacker-writable directory; planted settings can reduce derivation to roughly one hash round and enable offline password brute force.

CVSS severity8.7
High
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
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Summary

What happened

KDF downgrade in OpenSSL Encrypt 1.4.8 and earlier allows local users to weaken GUI-created ciphertext via a planted configuration file. crypt_settings.py reassigns CONFIG_FILE from the absolute per-user path to crypt_settings.json, causing SettingsTab to trust KDF values in the launch directory. Exploitation requires the legacy Tk GUI to launch from an attacker-writable directory; planted settings can reduce derivation to roughly one hash round and enable offline password brute force.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-81697
Published
Aug 27, 2026
Updated
Aug 27, 2026
Vendor
jahlives
Product
OpenSSL Encrypt
Classifications
CWE-426, T1565.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 27, 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 <1.4.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

jahlives · OpenSSL Encryptversion=0 <1.4.9

Published CVSS scores

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
5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/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.

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

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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