Medium · CVSS 6.9CVE-2026-74871GHSA-VXF9-VWP6-2W43

openssl_encrypt before 1.4.6 KDF Bypass via Sequential-XOR

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-74871 records a Medium severity (CVSS 6.9) vulnerability in openssl_encrypt before 1.4.6 KDF Bypass via Sequential-XOR. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps jahlives/openssl_encrypt (generic), openssl-encrypt (pypi). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Aug 17, 2026Updated Oct 1, 2026Source checked Oct 1, 2026First seen by HOL Aug 17, 2026Material review Oct 1, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Medium · CVSS 6.9
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 3 mapped packages or products
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 6.9. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps jahlives/openssl_encrypt (generic), openssl-encrypt (pypi). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Affected products and reported versions
Product	Affected versions	Fixed versions
cpe:2.3:a:jahlives:openssl_encrypt::::::python::*	Not reported	Not reported

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
jahlives/openssl_encryptgeneric	>=0 <1.4.6	1.4.6
openssl-encryptpypi	>=0 <1.4.6	1.4.6

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for jahlives/openssl_encrypt, openssl-encrypt.
Review the reported fix. Update jahlives/openssl_encrypt to 1.4.6; openssl-encrypt to 1.4.6 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Aug 17, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Oct 1, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Aug 17, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.6 contain a key derivation flaw in sequential XOR composition mode where the last stage cancels out during key generation. When configured with a single KDF and no prior hashing stage, attackers can bypass memory-hard key derivation and perform offline password cracking at SHA-256 speed instead of the configured KDF cost.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.