---
id: CVE-2026-81686
title: openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 D-Bus Properties Authorization Bypass
summary: >-
  openssl_encrypt 1.4.x before 1.4.9 contains an optional D-Bus crypto service
  whose org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties.Set method performs neither a polkit
  authorization check nor value validation. Any local user on the system bus can
  call S…
severity: medium
cvss: 6.2
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-20
vendor: jahlives
product: openssl_encrypt
affected:
  - openssl_encrypt < 1.4.9
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-08-27T18:06:14.323611Z'
published: '2026-08-27'
updated: '2026-10-01'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-01T15:21:20.770Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-81686'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-7fhx-8rmv-qjj3
    label: GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-7fhx-8rmv-qjj3)
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-d-bus-properties-authorization-bypass
    label: >-
      VulnCheck Advisory: openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 D-Bus Properties
      Authorization Bypass
tags:
  - cve.org
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00139
epssPercentile: 0.03281
aliases:
  - PYSEC-2026-3794
  - GHSA-7fhx-8rmv-qjj3
ecosystem: pip
patched:
  - openssl-encrypt 1.4.9
scores:
  cna: 6.2
  osv: 5.5
ingestedAt: '2026-09-03T19:32:12.069Z'
---

## Overview

openssl_encrypt 1.4.x before 1.4.9 contains an optional D-Bus crypto service whose org.freedesktop.DBus.Properties.Set method performs neither a polkit authorization check nor value validation. Any local user on the system bus can call Set without authorization and set MaxConcurrentOperations (to 0/negative, causing the concurrency gate to refuse all subsequent operations, or to a huge value removing the limit) or the unbounded DefaultTimeout, resulting in a persistent denial of service of the root daemon. The D-Bus service exists only on the 1.4.x line and was removed in 1.5.x.

## Affected

- `openssl_encrypt < 1.4.9`

## Remediation

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

## Package advisory (CVE-2026-81686)

Affected packages:

- `openssl-encrypt < 1.4.9`

Patched in:

- `openssl-encrypt 1.4.9`

Source: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/PYSEC-2026-3794