GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p: Openssl encrypt Openssl-encrypt Has Visible Password Vulnerability

MODERATE
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CWE-256
Published
Advisory Summary

GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p is a MODERATE openssl-encrypt has visible password vulnerability (CWE-256: Plaintext Storage of a Password) affecting Openssl encrypt libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves openssl-encrypt has visible password in process list via --password cli argument. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.4.0.

GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p at a Glance

CVE Identifier N/A
GHSA Identifier GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-256: Plaintext Storage of a Password
Affected Product Openssl encrypt
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Openssl encrypt dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

openssl-encrypt fixed: 1.4.0 
pip install openssl-encrypt>=1.4.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

pip show openssl-encrypt

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show openssl-encrypt

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Openssl encrypt in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.4.0), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show openssl-encrypt command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-256: Plaintext Storage of a Password, where the product stores a password in plaintext within resources such as memory or files. In Openssl encrypt, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Summary Passwords 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`. ### Affected Code ```python subparser.add_argument( "--password", "-p", help="Password (will prompt if not provided, or use CRYPT_PASSWORD environment variable)", ) ``` Similarly, `--keystore-password` exposes the keystore password. ### Impact On 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). ### Recommended Fix - Document the security implications prominently - Recommend interactive prompting (already supported) as the secure default - Consider supporting password file descriptors (`--password-fd`) or reading from stdin - Consider marking the argument as deprecated in favor of interactive prompting ### Fix Fixed 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.

GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p Affected Openssl encrypt Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.4.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openssl-encrypt
pypi/openssl-encrypt
PyPI
< 1.4.0
1.4.0

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/commit/e78a3666e4592f3538adaaa6be8f5f04356174db
Openssl encrypt Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p?
GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p is a security vulnerability in Openssl encrypt involving openssl-encrypt has visible password in process list via --password CLI argument under CWE-256: Plaintext Storage of a Password.
Which Openssl encrypt versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.4.0 across affected packages: openssl-encrypt.
What version fixes GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p?
Upgrading to 1.4.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openssl-encrypt affected?
Yes, openssl-encrypt is affected in releases prior to 1.4.0. Upgrade your dependency to 1.4.0 or later.
What CWE is associated with GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p?
GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p is classified under CWE-256: Plaintext Storage of a Password (The product stores a password in plaintext within resources such as memory or files.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show openssl-encrypt'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p",
  "modified" : "2026-03-31T23:42:17Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-31T23:42:17Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "openssl-encrypt has visible password in process list via --password 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.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "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/E:U"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "openssl-encrypt"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.4.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-h3m5-p59h-x88p"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/commit/e78a3666e4592f3538adaaa6be8f5f04356174db"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-256" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-31T23:42:17Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}