CVE-2026-81681
MEDIUMDescription
openssl_encrypt (pip package openssl-encrypt) versions <= 1.4.8 advertise a portable USB workspace as an 'Encrypted USB Workspace' with AES-256-GCM encryption and write a marker declaring the workspace encrypted, but the workspace directory is actually stored in cleartext and the derived encryption key is never applied to it. A user who trusts the branding and places files in the workspace leaves them unencrypted on the removable media, so an attacker with physical access to the media can read the sensitive files. Fixed in 1.4.9, which seals the workspace into an authenticated AES-256-GCM vault.
How to fix
TridentStack Control can deploy fixes like this automatically across your Windows, macOS, and Linux fleet. See how it works
Remediation is compiled from vendor and distribution security advisories. Always confirm against the linked source for your exact version and platform.
CVSS v3 Vector
Exploitability
Impact
CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Exploit Intelligence
Low risk: more likely to be exploited than 3% of all known CVEs.
References
Related Vulnerabilities
Other CWE-311 vulnerabilities, ordered by exploit likelihood. View all
| CVE | Severity | CVSS | EPSS | Exploited | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-34486 | High | 7.5 | 99% | KEV | Fix |
| CVE-2026-27944 | Critical | 9.8 | 22% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2019-11367 | Critical | 9.8 | 2.8% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2017-8221 | High | 7.5 | 2.7% | - | - |
| CVE-2018-10698 | Critical | 9.8 | 2.3% | - | - |
| CVE-2016-10593 | High | 8.1 | 2.3% | - | - |
Common questions
How do I fix CVE-2026-81681?
Upgrade openssl encrypt to 1.4.9 or later.
Is CVE-2026-81681 being actively exploited?
Not that we know of. CVE-2026-81681 is not in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Its EPSS score of 0.13% is the estimated probability that it will be exploited in the next 30 days. That is higher than 3% of all scored CVEs.
How severe is CVE-2026-81681?
CVE-2026-81681 has a CVSS v3 base score of 4.6, rated medium. CVSS rates the technical impact if the vulnerability is exploited, not how likely that is, so weigh it alongside the exploit-prediction score when you decide what to patch first.
What does CVE-2026-81681 affect?
Published advisories record a fix for openssl encrypt (NVD). Only products with a sourced advisory are listed, so treat this as what we can cite rather than a complete inventory.
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This product uses NVD data but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS scores courtesy of FIRST.org (https://www.first.org/epss). Source: CISA KEV Catalog. Data as of 2026-09-02.