Vulnerability in Jahlives OpenSSL Encrypt
CVE-2026-81690
openssl-encrypt (pip package) before 1.4.9 contains a symlink-following flaw in its verify-usb v2 added-file allowlist scan. The scan enumerated the drive with rglob(), which in CPython does not descend into symlinked directories and treats the symlink as an ordinary directory, while O_NOFOLLOW on the hash side binds only the final path component. An evil-maid attacker with physical access to the removable drive could replace a tool-tree directory with a symlink to a copy containing byte-identical files plus a planted __pycache__/*.pyc file (which CPython loads in preference to recompiling the clean .py). The planted file is never enumerated, added_files stays 0, and verify-usb reports PASSED, resulting in code execution when the victim runs the portable install. Fixed in 1.4.9 (affects both 1.4.x and 1.5.x lines).
Published · last modified .
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 7.3 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H.
EPSS exploit prediction
EPSS: 0.007 (52.1th percentile), scored .
Very low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; routine patching cadence is appropriate. 52nd percentile — 52.1% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.
EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.005 · newest: 0.007 · change: +0.002
Affected products
Weakness classification (CWE)
References
- GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-hw7h-wqf5-6crx) (vendor-advisory, Vendor Advisory)
- VulnCheck Advisory: verify-usb before 1.4.9 Symlink Directory Traversal Code Execution (Third Party Advisory, third-party-advisory)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2026-81690?
- CVE-2026-81690 is a high-severity vulnerability in Jahlives OpenSSL Encrypt, classified under Improper Link Resolution Before File Access. CVSS score: 7.3/10. Published 2026-08-27.
- How severe is CVE-2026-81690?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.3 out of 10.