CVE-2026-81698Public exploitNetwork attack vectorHinoki check available

Command execution via unquoted metadata reconstruction

Published Aug 27, 2026 · Updated Aug 27, 2026

Shell injection in OpenSSL Encrypt before 1.4.9 allows attackers to execute commands when a user runs a reconstructed CLI block. The info command's _reconstruct_cli_from_metadata function inserts pepper_name and other file metadata into shell text without quoting. Exploitation requires a user to inspect an attacker-crafted file and paste or otherwise run the printed block, granting commands that user's privileges.

CVSS severity9.3
Critical
EPSS probability0.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
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Summary

What happened

Shell injection in OpenSSL Encrypt before 1.4.9 allows attackers to execute commands when a user runs a reconstructed CLI block. The info command's _reconstruct_cli_from_metadata function inserts pepper_name and other file metadata into shell text without quoting. Exploitation requires a user to inspect an attacker-crafted file and paste or otherwise run the printed block, granting commands that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-81698
Published
Aug 27, 2026
Updated
Aug 27, 2026
Vendor
jahlives
Product
OpenSSL Encrypt
Classifications
CWE-78, T1204.004
Attack vector
network
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 vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

jahlives · OpenSSL Encryptversion=0 <1.4.9

Published CVSS scores

7.5VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1204.004User Execution: Malicious Copy and Paste

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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