openssl-encrypt has visible password in process list via --password CLI argument

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS 4.0

6.6 · 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/E:U · score source

EPSS

• CVE-2026-74873: 0.32% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 24.52 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary Passwords passed via the --password / -p CLI argument in opensslencrypt/modules/cryptclisubparser.py at lines 150-154 are visible to any user on the system via ps aux or /proc/[pid]/cmdline. Affected Code Similarly, --keystore-password exposes the keystore password. Impact On multi-user systems, any user can observe the encryption password by listing processes. The CRYPTPASSWORD environment variable alternative is also visible via /proc/[pid]/environ (though with slightly restricted access). Recommended Fix - Document the security implications prominently - Recommend interactive prompting (already supported) as the secure default - Consider supporting password file descriptors (--password-fd) or reading from stdin - Consider marking the argument as deprecated in favor of interactive prompting Fix Fixed in commit e78a366 on branch releases/1.4.x — added --password-file and --password-fd arguments; added OPENSSLENCRYPTPASSWORD env var support; --password now emits deprecation…

Published by the source

31 Mar 2026, 23:42 UTC

Last modified by the source

2 Sep 2026, 09:10 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 13:40 UTC

1. Revision 3 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p

2. Revision 2 · amended · 25 Oct 2026

   Reviewed OSV alias/range/CVSS4 correction; package source scopes and original publication preserved. No customer finding resolved.

3. Revision 1 · created · 24 Oct 2026

   Published from osv record GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-74873

Advisory: openssl-encrypt has visible password in process list via --password CLI argument
IDs: CVE-2026-74873, GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-74873 (revision 3, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 13:40 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 6.6)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: openssl-encrypt 1.4.0. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- PyPI openssl-encrypt: affected < 1.4.0; fixed in 1.4.0

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `python -m pip show openssl-encrypt`: prints the installed version. Run with the environment that serves production active.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on openssl-encrypt.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p (OSV record GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p lists affected ranges: PyPI openssl-encrypt >=0 <1.4.0 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p lists affected ranges: PyPI openssl-encrypt >=0 <1.4.0)

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