---
id: CVE-2026-81689
aliases:
  - PYSEC-2026-3959
  - GHSA-3v63-778v-3mvp
title: >-
  openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.9 derive the remote-pepper wrap key using
  unsalted HKDF-SHA256 or bare SHA-256 of the password, allow…
summary: >-
  openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.9 derive the remote-pepper wrap key using
  unsalted HKDF-SHA256 or bare SHA-256 of the password, allowing identical keys
  across all users and files. Attackers with access to wrapped pepper blobs can
  pre…
severity: none
vendor: openssl-encrypt
product: openssl-encrypt
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - openssl-encrypt < 1.4.9
patched:
  - openssl-encrypt 1.4.9
published: '2026-08-27'
updated: '2026-09-10'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-10T13:00:04.707453404Z'
source: OSV
sourceUrl: 'https://osv.dev/vulnerability/PYSEC-2026-3959'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-3v63-778v-3mvp
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-weak-pepper-key-derivation
tags:
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00272
epssPercentile: 0.17362
ingestedAt: '2026-09-12T03:13:01.743Z'
---

## Overview

openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.9 derive the remote-pepper wrap key using unsalted HKDF-SHA256 or bare SHA-256 of the password, allowing identical keys across all users and files. Attackers with access to wrapped pepper blobs can precompute a single dictionary table and perform fleet-wide offline password guessing at hardware speed to recover user passwords.

## Affected packages

- `openssl-encrypt < 1.4.9`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `openssl-encrypt 1.4.9`