---
id: CVE-2026-74870
title: openssl_encrypt before 1.4.8 Hardware Pepper Information Disclosure
summary: >-
  openssl_encrypt (pip) versions <= 1.4.7 contain an information exposure
  vulnerability where the 'hsm fido2-test' and 'hsm onlykey-test' diagnostic
  commands unconditionally print the full derived hardware pepper as hex to
  stdout/stderr (c…
severity: low
cvss: 3.3
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-532
vendor: jahlives
product: openssl_encrypt
affected:
  - openssl_encrypt < 1.4.8
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-08-17T15:15:31.287036Z'
published: '2026-08-17'
updated: '2026-10-01'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-01T15:20:47.578Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-74870'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-p9g8-wvh4-2jmx
    label: GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-p9g8-wvh4-2jmx)
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-hardware-pepper-information-disclosure
    label: >-
      VulnCheck Advisory: openssl_encrypt before 1.4.8 Hardware Pepper
      Information Disclosure
tags:
  - cve.org
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00261
epssPercentile: 0.17755
aliases:
  - PYSEC-2026-3956
  - GHSA-p9g8-wvh4-2jmx
ecosystem: pip
patched:
  - openssl-encrypt 1.4.7
ingestedAt: '2026-09-12T03:13:01.743Z'
---

## Overview

openssl_encrypt (pip) versions <= 1.4.7 contain an information exposure vulnerability where the 'hsm fido2-test' and 'hsm onlykey-test' diagnostic commands unconditionally print the full derived hardware pepper as hex to stdout/stderr (crypt_cli.py, handle_hsm_command). The printed value can persist in terminal scrollback, session recordings, or CI logs. Impact is limited because the pepper is derived from a random per-invocation test salt and is salt-bound, so the leaked value cannot be used to decrypt real files. A related plugin issue logged raw prf_data outside the secret-redaction path. Fixed in 1.4.8 (and 1.5.0) by removing the hex dumps and routing plugin debug output through the redaction layer.

## Affected

- `openssl_encrypt < 1.4.8`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.

## Package advisory (CVE-2026-74870)

Affected packages:

- `openssl-encrypt < 1.4.7`

Patched in:

- `openssl-encrypt 1.4.7`

Source: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/PYSEC-2026-3956