{"id":"CVE-2026-81699","title":"openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.9 fail to properly validate key derivation function costs in crafted files, allowing attackers to trigger unbounded memory and CPU exhaustion during pre-authentication processing","summary":"openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.9 fail to properly validate key derivation function costs in crafted files, allowing attackers to trigger unbounded memory and CPU exhaustion during pre-authentication processing. Attackers can supply …","severity":"high","cvss":7.5,"cvssVector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N","cwe":["CWE-770"],"vendor":"jahlives","product":"openssl_encrypt","affected":["openssl_encrypt < 1.4.9"],"patched":["openssl_encrypt 1.4.9"],"published":"2026-08-27","updated":"2026-09-03","sourceUpdated":"2026-09-03T15:09:04.887","source":"NVD","sourceUrl":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-81699","references":[{"url":"https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-phmr-p567-q5g6","label":"disclosure@vulncheck.com"},{"url":"https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-denial-of-service-via-unbounded-kdf-cost","label":"disclosure@vulncheck.com"}],"tags":["nvd","cve.org"],"ssvc":{"exploitation":"none","automatable":"yes","technicalImpact":"partial","timestamp":"2026-08-27T18:38:48.311398Z"},"ingestedAt":"2026-09-14T11:11:18.822Z","epss":0.00353,"epssPercentile":0.29093,"slug":"CVE-2026-81699","body":"## Overview\n\nopenssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.9 fail to properly validate key derivation function costs in crafted files, allowing attackers to trigger unbounded memory and CPU exhaustion during pre-authentication processing. Attackers can supply malicious files with excessive KDF parameters to exhaust system resources and crash or wedge the process before password verification occurs.\n\n## Affected\n\n- `openssl_encrypt < 1.4.9`\n\n## Remediation\n\nUpgrade past the affected range:\n\n- `openssl_encrypt 1.4.9`","depth":"twilight","depthScore":41,"depthScoreParts":{"impact":41.3,"likelihood":0.1,"exploitation":0,"ransomware":0},"changes":[{"seq":197009,"id":"CVE-2026-81699","ts":1789384284387,"field":"cvss","old":null,"new":"7.5"},{"seq":197008,"id":"CVE-2026-81699","ts":1789384284387,"field":"severity","old":"none","new":"high"}]}