openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 use a non-standard PBKDF2 key derivation construction with iterations=1 per call in an outer loop, creating a KDF whose security properties have not been formally analyzed. Attackers can exploit this weakened key derivation to more efficiently crack passwords protecting legacy encrypted files compared to standard PBKDF2 implementations.

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact None

Vulnerable System Availability Impact None

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact None

Availability Impact None

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Exploitation none

Automatable yes

Technical Impact partial

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
jahlives openssl_encrypt unaffected
Version Status Constraints
0 affected < 1.4.0
1.4.0 unaffected —

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Project Subscriptions

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-743f-89fg-x288 cve-icon cve-icon
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-non-standard-pbkdf2-key-derivation cve-icon cve-icon
History

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 use a non-standard PBKDF2 key derivation construction with iterations=1 per call in an outer loop, creating a KDF whose security properties have not been formally analyzed. Attackers can exploit this weakened key derivation to more efficiently crack passwords protecting legacy encrypted files compared to standard PBKDF2 implementations.
Title openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Non-Standard PBKDF2 Key Derivation
Weaknesses CWE-327
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-17T12:48:36.797Z

Reserved: 2026-08-17T10:42:40.455Z

Link: CVE-2026-74888

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-17T12:48:28.562Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-17T11:16:43.653

Modified: 2026-08-17T13:16:53.723

Link: CVE-2026-74888

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-17T13:00:13Z

Weaknesses