openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 use Python's non-cryptographic random module for steganographic pixel selection in the generate_pseudorandom_sequence function. Attackers who know the password can recover the Mersenne Twister state from approximately 624 outputs and predict pixel locations containing hidden data for extraction.

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact None

Vulnerable System Availability Impact None

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact None

Availability Impact None

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
jahlives openssl_encrypt unaffected
Version Status Constraints
0 affected < 1.4.0
1.4.0 unaffected —

No data.

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Project Subscriptions

No data.

Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-vfgx-5q85-58q3 cve-icon cve-icon
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-weak-prng-steganography-pixel-selection cve-icon cve-icon
History

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 use Python's non-cryptographic random module for steganographic pixel selection in the generate_pseudorandom_sequence function. Attackers who know the password can recover the Mersenne Twister state from approximately 624 outputs and predict pixel locations containing hidden data for extraction.
Title openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Weak PRNG Steganography Pixel Selection
Weaknesses CWE-338
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.7, 'vector': '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'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-17T11:04:42.912Z

Reserved: 2026-08-17T10:31:04.593Z

Link: CVE-2026-74874

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-17T11:16:41.813

Modified: 2026-08-17T11:16:41.813

Link: CVE-2026-74874

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses