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GHSA-8h88-gxp3-j7pg CVE-2026-74876 PYSEC-2026-3756

openssl-encrypt's unverified key bundle from_dict() + to_identity() path allows encryption to attacker keys

Critical PyPI
Severity
0.0 / 10
Critical · CVSS 4.0
Exploit chance (EPSS)
0.35%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. Higher than 28.42% of scored vulnerabilities.
Known exploited
No
Not in CISA's catalog
Weakness
CWE-347 Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
Fix
1.4.0
Upgrade openssl-encrypt to this version or later

Description

Summary

The PublicKeyBundle.from_dict() method in openssl_encrypt/modules/key_bundle.py at lines 329-361 creates bundles from untrusted data without verifying the signature. The docstring warns to call verify_signature() after creation, but the to_identity() method (line 363-391) can convert an unverified bundle directly to an Identity object.

Affected Code

@classmethod
def from_dict(cls, data: Dict) -> "PublicKeyBundle":
    """
    SECURITY: Does NOT verify signature. Call verify_signature() after creation.
    """
    # Creates bundle without verification

Impact

If from_dict() followed by to_identity() is called without an intervening verify_signature() call, encryption could be performed against an attacker's public key, leaking secrets. While key_resolver.py (lines 146-147) does verify before use, the unguarded API path remains directly callable.

Recommended Fix

  • Add a verified flag to PublicKeyBundle that must be set before to_identity() can be called
  • Or have to_identity() automatically call verify_signature() and raise on failure
  • Or make from_dict() require verification as part of construction

Fix

Fixed in commit f4a1ba6 on branch releases/1.4.x — from_dict() now verifies self_signature by default (verify=True parameter); raises ValueError on verification failure.

Affected versions

PyPI

PackageVulnerableFixed in
openssl-encrypt
< 1.4.0
1.4.0

How to fix

Move to the fixed version or later with your package manager, update the lockfile, and run your tests. If the package only arrives through another dependency, upgrade that dependency first. If none of its releases pulls a fixed version yet, force the version with your package manager's override.

openssl-encrypt PyPI → 1.4.0

pip
pip install --upgrade "openssl-encrypt>=1.4.0"
poetry
poetry add "openssl-encrypt>=1.4.0"
uv
uv add "openssl-encrypt>=1.4.0"

Severity breakdown

CVSS 4.0 0.0

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Attack requirements
None
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
None
Integrity (vulnerable system)
High
Availability (vulnerable system)
None
Confidentiality (subsequent systems)
None
Integrity (subsequent systems)
None
Availability (subsequent systems)
None
Exploit maturity
Unreported

CVSS 3.1 9.8

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Weakness

CWE-347: Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature

The product does not verify, or incorrectly verifies, the cryptographic signature for data.

References

Timeline

  1. Published
  2. Last updated by the source
  3. Latest EPSS score
AdvisorySeverityWhy it's related
PYSEC-2026-3803
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PYSEC-2026-3965
openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 fails to validate the memory_cost parameter from identity file protection blocks, allowing attackers to trigger out-of-memory…
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PYSEC-2026-3802
openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 executes untrusted third-party plugins with insufficient controls: the plugin signature policy defaulted to WARN, so an…
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PYSEC-2026-3801
openssl_encrypt (pip package openssl-encrypt) before 1.4.9 contains two weaknesses in the portable USB drive feature, whose threat model treats the removable…
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PYSEC-2026-3800
openssl_encrypt (pip: openssl-encrypt) versions before 1.4.9 contain a path traversal flaw in PluginSandbox._is_safe_path, which authorized file access using a…
Medium Also affects openssl-encrypt
PYSEC-2026-3964
openssl_encrypt (pip package openssl-encrypt) versions <= 1.4.8 do not redact the keyserver bearer token passed as the positional argument to 'keyserver…
Low Also affects openssl-encrypt
PYSEC-2026-3799
openssl_encrypt (pip: openssl-encrypt) versions <= 1.4.8 use suffix-tolerant fingerprint matching in enroll_trust_key when binding a plugin-signing trust…
High Also affects openssl-encrypt
PYSEC-2026-3781
openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9 fails to prevent namespace collisions between own identities and contacts in IdentityStore, allowing attackers to create shadowed…
Critical Also affects openssl-encrypt
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