---
id: CVE-2026-81719
title: openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 Remote Code Execution via Plugin
summary: >-
  openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 executes untrusted third-party plugins with
  insufficient controls: the plugin signature policy defaulted to WARN, so an
  unsigned/unverifiable non-built-in plugin was compiled and executed in the
  host process …
severity: high
cvss: 7.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-94
vendor: jahlives
product: openssl_encrypt
affected:
  - openssl_encrypt < 1.4.9
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-08-27T18:27:57.459770Z'
published: '2026-08-27'
updated: '2026-10-01'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-01T15:21:38.281Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-81719'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-587j-4r3v-cm2c
    label: GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-587j-4r3v-cm2c)
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-remote-code-execution-via-plugin
    label: >-
      VulnCheck Advisory: openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 Remote Code Execution via
      Plugin
tags:
  - cve.org
  - osv
  - pip
epss: 0.00436
epssPercentile: 0.37681
aliases:
  - PYSEC-2026-3802
  - GHSA-587j-4r3v-cm2c
ecosystem: pip
patched:
  - openssl-encrypt 1.4.9
ingestedAt: '2026-09-03T19:32:12.409Z'
---

## Overview

openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 executes untrusted third-party plugins with insufficient controls: the plugin signature policy defaulted to WARN, so an unsigned/unverifiable non-built-in plugin was compiled and executed in the host process at import time, before the runtime sandbox is installed. The only default gate was an incomplete, bypassable AST denylist. If a user is induced to load an attacker's plugin, this results in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running openssl_encrypt. Fixed in 1.4.9 by defaulting the signature policy to ENFORCE for non-built-in plugins.

## Affected

- `openssl_encrypt < 1.4.9`

## Remediation

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

## Package advisory (CVE-2026-81719)

Affected packages:

- `openssl-encrypt < 1.4.9`

Patched in:

- `openssl-encrypt 1.4.9`

Source: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/PYSEC-2026-3802