Description
openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 use a non-standard PBKDF2 key derivation construction with iterations=1 per call in an outer loop, creating a KDF whose security properties have not been formally analyzed. Attackers can exploit this weakened key derivation to more efficiently crack passwords protecting legacy encrypted files compared to standard PBKDF2 implementations.
Published: 2026-08-17
Score: 8.7 High
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

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Tracking

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History

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 use a non-standard PBKDF2 key derivation construction with iterations=1 per call in an outer loop, creating a KDF whose security properties have not been formally analyzed. Attackers can exploit this weakened key derivation to more efficiently crack passwords protecting legacy encrypted files compared to standard PBKDF2 implementations.
Title openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Non-Standard PBKDF2 Key Derivation
Weaknesses CWE-327
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'}


Subscriptions

No data.

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-17T12:48:36.797Z

Reserved: 2026-08-17T10:42:40.455Z

Link: CVE-2026-74888

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-17T12:48:28.562Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-17T11:16:43.653

Modified: 2026-08-17T13:16:53.723

Link: CVE-2026-74888

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-17T13:00:13Z

Weaknesses