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openssl-encrypt before 1.4.9 fails to redact the file password in its --debug argv dump when the password is supplied via bundled short-option spellings (e.g. -…
Published:
27 August 2026 at 00:00:00
Alert date:
27 August 2026 at 20:17:27
Source:
nvd.nist.gov
Security Tools, Identity & Access
openssl-encrypt versions before 1.4.9 contain a vulnerability where file passwords are not properly redacted in debug output. When passwords are supplied via bundled short-option spellings (e.g., -apHunter2) or abbreviated long-option spellings (e.g., --passw), the sanitizer fails to recognize and redact them. The sanitizer only handled exact option names, --option=value forms, and tokens starting with -p, leaving these alternate spellings unredacted. As a result, cleartext passwords are written to stderr and may appear in terminal scrollback, merged 2>&1 output, CI job logs, or GUI persistent debug logs. Anyone with access to these outputs can recover the plaintext password. Users should upgrade to openssl-encrypt 1.4.9 or later to remediate this information disclosure vulnerability.
Technical details
Mitigation steps:
Affected products:
openssl-encrypt before 1.4.9
Related links:
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-81705
https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-jgvm-7jxv-cgcc
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-password-cleartext-leak-via-debug
Related CVE's:
Related threat actors:
IOC's:
This article was created with the assistance of AI technology by Perceptive.
