CVE-2026-81683 (CVSS 8.4)

Description

openssl_encrypt (pip package openssl-encrypt) versions 1.4.8 and earlier store an mTLS client private key in cleartext within a world-readable (0644) SharedPreferences file via the desktop GUI's Settings screen 'combined certificate and private key' PEM field. A local attacker with file system access can read the exposed private key. Version 1.4.9 writes the PEM to a dedicated 0600 file, keeps only its path in SharedPreferences, and migrates/scrubs existing cleartext values.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

8.4

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0005

Probability of exploitation

0.00%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-312 CWE-312

References

Other References

https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-r8gw-6hfj-98jw https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-plaintext-private-key-storage

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-81683? +

openssl_encrypt (pip package openssl-encrypt) versions 1.4.8 and earlier store an mTLS client private key in cleartext within a world-readable (0644) SharedPreferences file via the desktop GUI's Settings screen 'combined certificate and private key' PEM field. A local attacker with file system access can read the exposed private key. Version 1.4.9 writes the PEM to a dedicated 0600 file, keeps only its path in SharedPreferences, and migrates/scrubs existing cleartext values. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.4 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2026-81683? +

CVE-2026-81683 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.4 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0005, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-81683? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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