openssl-encrypt (pip package) before 1.4.9 contains a symlink-following flaw in its verify-usb v2 added-file allowlist scan. The scan enumerated the drive with rglob(), which in CPython does not descend into symlinked directories and treats the symlink as an ordinary directory, while O_NOFOLLOW on the hash side binds only the final path component. An evil-maid attacker with physical access to the removable drive could replace a tool-tree directory with a symlink to a copy containing byte-identical files plus a planted __pycache__/*.pyc file (which CPython loads in preference to recompiling the clean .py). The planted file is never enumerated, added_files stays 0, and verify-usb reports PASSED, resulting in code execution when the victim runs the portable install. Fixed in 1.4.9 (affects both 1.4.x and 1.5.x lines).
Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Thu, 01 Oct 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:jahlives:openssl_encrypt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:jahlives:openssl_encrypt:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:*

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Jahlives
Jahlives openssl Encrypt
Vendors & Products Jahlives
Jahlives openssl Encrypt

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description openssl-encrypt (pip package) before 1.4.9 contains a symlink-following flaw in its verify-usb v2 added-file allowlist scan. The scan enumerated the drive with rglob(), which in CPython does not descend into symlinked directories and treats the symlink as an ordinary directory, while O_NOFOLLOW on the hash side binds only the final path component. An evil-maid attacker with physical access to the removable drive could replace a tool-tree directory with a symlink to a copy containing byte-identical files plus a planted __pycache__/*.pyc file (which CPython loads in preference to recompiling the clean .py). The planted file is never enumerated, added_files stays 0, and verify-usb reports PASSED, resulting in code execution when the victim runs the portable install. Fixed in 1.4.9 (affects both 1.4.x and 1.5.x lines).
Title verify-usb before 1.4.9 Symlink Directory Traversal Code Execution
Weaknesses CWE-59
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H'}

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'}


Projects

Sign in to view the affected projects.

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-01T15:21:23.408Z

Reserved: 2026-08-27T11:12:00.889Z

Link: CVE-2026-81690

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-27T19:25:43.132Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-08-27T17:20:58.843

Modified: 2026-09-02T13:10:16.537

Link: CVE-2026-81690

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-27T18:45:04Z

Weaknesses