CVE-2026-74876
openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Unverified Key Bundle Encryption
openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain a vulnerability in PublicKeyBundle.from_dict() that creates key bundles from untrusted data without verifying signatures. Attackers can call from_dict() followed by to_identity() without signature verification to encrypt data using attacker-controlled public keys, leaking secrets.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
9.3
openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Unverified Key Bundle Encryption
openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain a vulnerability in PublicKeyBundle.from_dict() that creates key bundles from untrusted data without verifying signatures. Attackers can call from_dict() followed by to_identity() without signature verification to encrypt data using attacker-controlled public keys, leaking secrets.
- Record
CVE-2026-74876- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-60095
9.3
openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain a vulnerability in PublicKeyBundle.from_dict() that creates key bundles from untrusted data without verifying signatures. Attackers can call from_dict() followed by to_identity() without signature verification to encrypt data using attacker-controlled public keys, leaking secrets.
- Record
EUVD-2026-60095- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-723w-crw6-p9hx
9.3
openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain a vulnerability in PublicKeyBundle.from_dict() that...
openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain a vulnerability in PublicKeyBundle.from_dict() that creates key bundles from untrusted data without verifying signatures. Attackers can call from_dict() followed by to_identity() without signature verification to encrypt data using attacker-controlled public keys, leaking secrets.
- Record
GHSA-723w-crw6-p9hx- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-8h88-gxp3-j7pg
6.6
openssl-encrypt's unverified key bundle from_dict() + to_identity() path allows encryption to attacker keys
Summary
The PublicKeyBundle.from_dict() method in openssl_encrypt/modules/key_bundle.py at lines 329-361 creates bundles from untrusted data without verifying the signature. The docstring warns to call verify_signature() after creation, but the to_identity() method (line 363-391) can convert an unverified bundle directly to an Identity object.
Affected Code
@classmethod
def from_dict(cls, data: Dict) -> "PublicKeyBundle":
"""
SECURITY: Does NOT verify signature. Call verify_signature() after creation.
"""
# Creates bundle without verification
Impact
If from_dict() followed by to_identity() is called without an intervening verify_signature() call, encryption could be performed against an attacker's public key, leaking secrets. While key_resolver.py (lines 146-147) does verify before use, the unguarded API path remains directly callable.
Recommended Fix
- Add a
verifiedflag toPublicKeyBundlethat must be set beforeto_identity()can be called - Or have
to_identity()automatically callverify_signature()and raise on failure - Or make
from_dict()require verification as part of construction
Fix
Fixed in commit f4a1ba6 on branch releases/1.4.x — from_dict() now verifies self_signature by default (verify=True parameter); raises ValueError on verification failure.
- Record
GHSA-8h88-gxp3-j7pg- CVSS 4.0
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U - Weakness
- CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
9.3
openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain a vulnerability in PublicKeyBundle.from_dict() that creates key bundles from untrusted data without verifying signatures. Attackers can call from_dict() followed by to_identity() without signature verification to encrypt data using attacker-controlled public keys, leaking secrets.
- Record
CVE-2026-74876- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
9.3
openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Unverified Key Bundle Encryption
openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain a vulnerability in PublicKeyBundle.from_dict() that creates key bundles from untrusted data without verifying signatures. Attackers can call from_dict() followed by to_identity() without signature verification to encrypt data using attacker-controlled public keys, leaking secrets.
- Record
CVE-2026-74876- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-8h88-gxp3-j7pg
6.6
openssl-encrypt's unverified key bundle from_dict() + to_identity() path allows encryption to attacker keys
Summary
The PublicKeyBundle.from_dict() method in openssl_encrypt/modules/key_bundle.py at lines 329-361 creates bundles from untrusted data without verifying the signature. The docstring warns to call verify_signature() after creation, but the to_identity() method (line 363-391) can convert an unverified bundle directly to an Identity object.
Affected Code
@classmethod
def from_dict(cls, data: Dict) -> "PublicKeyBundle":
"""
SECURITY: Does NOT verify signature. Call verify_signature() after creation.
"""
# Creates bundle without verification
Impact
If from_dict() followed by to_identity() is called without an intervening verify_signature() call, encryption could be performed against an attacker's public key, leaking secrets. While key_resolver.py (lines 146-147) does verify before use, the unguarded API path remains directly callable.
Recommended Fix
- Add a
verifiedflag toPublicKeyBundlethat must be set beforeto_identity()can be called - Or have
to_identity()automatically callverify_signature()and raise on failure - Or make
from_dict()require verification as part of construction
Fix
Fixed in commit f4a1ba6 on branch releases/1.4.x — from_dict() now verifies self_signature by default (verify=True parameter); raises ValueError on verification failure.
- Record
GHSA-8h88-gxp3-j7pg- CVSS 4.0
- 6.6 Medium
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U - Weakness
- CWE-347
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2026-3756
9.3
openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain a vulnerability in PublicKeyBundle.from_dict() that creates key bundles from untrusted data without verifying signatures. Attackers can call from_dict() followed by to_identity() without signature verification to encrypt data using attacker-controlled public keys, leaking secrets.
- Record
PYSEC-2026-3756- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
openssl-encryptPyPI |
before 1.4.0 | 1.4.0 |
openssl-encryptPyPI |
before 1.4.0, plus listed versions 0.2.20.2.30.2.40.2.50.2.6 Show 39 moreShow less0.3.00.3.10.3.20.3.30.4.00.4.10.4.20.4.30.4.40.5.00.5.10.5.30.6.0rc10.7.0rc20.7.10.7.20.8.00.8.10.8.20.9.21.0.01.0.11.0.21.0.31.1.01.2.01.2.11.3.01.3.11.3.21.3.31.3.41.3.51.4.0b31.4.0b41.4.0b51.4.0b61.4.0b71.4.0b8 |
1.4.0 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-74876 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.3) in Jahlives Openssl Encrypt, published April 1, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.35%, the 28th percentile. Fixed in openssl-encrypt 1.4.0.
References
github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-8h88-gxp3-j7pg
vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-unverified-key-bundle-encryption
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-74876
github.com/advisories/GHSA-723w-crw6-p9hx
github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/commit/f4a1ba660063cd9e17883829e5272a248525a16b
github.com/advisories/GHSA-8h88-gxp3-j7pg
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/74xxx/CVE-2026-74876.json
github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt