CVE-2026-81703Hinoki check available

Authentication bypass via unencrypted embedded PQC key

Published Aug 27, 2026 · Updated Aug 27, 2026

Authentication bypass in OpenSSL Encrypt before 1.4.9 allows attackers to produce trusted plaintext from crafted encrypted files. decrypt_file adopts encryption.pqc_private_key verbatim when pqc_key_encrypted is false or absent, leaving the password-derived key unused. A victim must process the crafted file and enter any password; affected builds then write attacker-chosen plaintext while falsely reporting verified integrity.

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

What happened

Authentication bypass in OpenSSL Encrypt before 1.4.9 allows attackers to produce trusted plaintext from crafted encrypted files. decrypt_file adopts encryption.pqc_private_key verbatim when pqc_key_encrypted is false or absent, leaving the password-derived key unused. A victim must process the crafted file and enter any password; affected builds then write attacker-chosen plaintext while falsely reporting verified integrity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-81703
Published
Aug 27, 2026
Updated
Aug 27, 2026
Vendor
jahlives
Product
OpenSSL Encrypt
Classifications
CWE-287
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

5.5VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication

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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