# CVE-2026-81691: openssl_encrypt unvalidated server URL in login and register_with_email

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81691-openssl-encrypt-unvalidated-server-url-in-login-and-register-with  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-08-27. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-81691 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-08-27

openssl_encrypt is a library for secure credential storage and key management in applications. Versions before 1.4.9 fail to validate server URLs in login and email registration functions, allowing them to accept unencrypted HTTP connections. Attackers positioned on the network can intercept transmitted credentials—including access tokens, passwords, and JWTs—leading to complete account takeover and unauthorized access to a user's cryptographic keys.

Technologies: [Jahlives Openssl Encrypt](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/openssl-encrypt), [openssl-encrypt (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypi-openssl-encrypt). Vendors: [Jahlives](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/jahlives), [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-81691 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-81691 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-81691?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 27 August 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** openssl-encrypt (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=1.4.9.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-81691?** Yes. openssl-encrypt (PyPI): upgrade to 1.4.9 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-81691 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-81691?** Check whether you run Jahlives Openssl Encrypt or openssl-encrypt (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- openssl-encrypt (PyPI): upgrade to 1.4.9 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "openssl-encrypt>=1.4.9"
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability is a cleartext transmission issue (CWE-319) in the keyserver plugin's login() and register_with_email() functions. While register() enforces HTTPS, login() and register_with_email() do not validate that the server URL uses HTTPS or matches the configured servers; certificate pinning is only applied when the HTTPS prefix is present. An attacker positioned on the network path can intercept credentials sent in cleartext over HTTP, including client_id (which alone grants access/refresh tokens), stored passwords, and returned JWTs, achieving full account takeover. The fix in version 1.4.9 introduces a shared _validate_server_url() validator that enforces HTTPS and membership in config.servers before any request is constructed, preventing credential leakage by refusing to make requests to invalid endpoints.

## Affected products

- openssl_encrypt openssl_encrypt before 1.4.9

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-81691
- PYSEC-2026-3797

## Timeline

- 2026-08-12: disclosed: GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-xr64-hcxg-4ghr) published
- 2026-08-27: advisory: CVE-2026-81691 and NVD entry published
- 2026: patched: Version 1.4.9 released with fix

## References

- [https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-xr64-hcxg-4ghr](https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-xr64-hcxg-4ghr)
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-credential-leakage-via-unvalidated-server-urls](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-1.4.9-credential-leakage-via-unvalidated-server-urls)

## Related threats

- [openssl_encrypt KDF cost parameter validation bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81721-openssl-encrypt-kdf-cost-parameter-validation-bypass)
- [openssl_encrypt memory exhaustion in identity file protection block](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81720-openssl-encrypt-memory-exhaustion-in-identity-file-protection)
- [openssl_encrypt arbitrary code execution via plugin signature bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81719-openssl-encrypt-arbitrary-code-execution-via-plugin-signature)
- [openssl_encrypt weak PBKDF2 parameters in keyfile encryption](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81718-openssl-encrypt-weak-pbkdf2-parameters-in-keyfile-encryption)
- [openssl_encrypt USB drive integrity bypass with fixed KDF salt](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81717-openssl-encrypt-usb-drive-integrity-bypass-with-fixed-kdf-salt)