{"id":"CVE-2026-74873","aliases":["GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p","PYSEC-2026-3753"],"url":"https://o3.security/vulnerability/CVE-2026-74873","summary":"openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Password Exposure via CLI Argument","details":"### Summary\n\nPasswords passed via the `--password` / `-p` CLI argument in `openssl_encrypt/modules/crypt_cli_subparser.py` at **lines 150-154** are visible to any user on the system via `ps aux` or `/proc/[pid]/cmdline`.\n\n### Affected Code\n\n```python\nsubparser.add_argument(\n    \"--password\", \"-p\",\n    help=\"Password (will prompt if not provided, or use CRYPT_PASSWORD environment variable)\",\n)\n```\n\nSimilarly, `--keystore-password` exposes the keystore password.\n\n### Impact\n\nOn multi-user systems, any user can observe the encryption password by listing processes. The `CRYPT_PASSWORD` environment variable alternative is also visible via `/proc/[pid]/environ` (though with slightly restricted access).\n\n### Recommended Fix\n\n- Document the security implications prominently\n- Recommend interactive prompting (already supported) as the secure default\n- Consider supporting password file descriptors (`--password-fd`) or reading from stdin\n- Consider marking the argument as deprecated in favor of interactive prompting\n\n### Fix\n\nFixed in commit `e78a366` on branch `releases/1.4.x` — added --password-file and --password-fd arguments; added OPENSSL_ENCRYPT_PASSWORD env var support; --password now emits deprecation warning.","published":"2026-08-17T11:04:42.213Z","modified":"2026-10-21T02:59:39.691519183Z","cvss":null,"epss":null,"cisaKev":null,"exploitsKnown":null,"affectedPackages":[{"ecosystem":"PyPI","name":"openssl-encrypt","fixedVersion":"1.4.0"}],"fix":{"url":"https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/commit/e78a3666e4592f3538adaaa6be8f5f04356174db","label":"jahlives/openssl_encrypt@e78a366"},"references":[{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/74xxx/CVE-2026-74873.json"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-74873"},{"type":"ADVISORY","url":"https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-password-exposure-via-cli-argument"},{"type":"WEB","url":"https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/commit/e78a3666e4592f3538adaaa6be8f5f04356174db"},{"type":"PACKAGE","url":"https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt"}],"provenance":{"sources":["OSV.dev","FIRST.org (EPSS)"],"lastVerified":"2026-10-21T02:59:39.691519183Z"}}