CVE-2026-74871: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-pj8r-rv9w-cfg8
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CVSS 6.2
CWE-916
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-74871 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.2) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-916: Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product generates a hash for a password, but it uses a scheme that does not provide a sufficient level of computational effort that would make password cracking attacks infeasible or expensive.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2026-74871 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-74871
GHSA Identifier GHSA-pj8r-rv9w-cfg8
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.2
CWE Classification CWE-916: Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.2

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-74871

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

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

mvn dependency:tree

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-74871, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

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

Note: The mvn dependency:tree command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-916: Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort, where the product generates a hash for a password, but it uses a scheme that does not provide a sufficient level of computational effort that would make password cracking attacks infeasible or expensive. In Software, 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

openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.6 contain a key derivation flaw in sequential XOR composition mode where the last stage cancels out during key generation. When configured with a single KDF and no prior hashing stage, attackers can bypass memory-hard key derivation and perform offline password cracking at SHA-256 speed instead of the configured KDF cost.

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-vxf9-vwp6-2w43
NVD — CVE-2026-74871 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-74871
www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-... WEB
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-kdf-bypass-via-sequential-xor

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-74871?
CVE-2026-74871 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-916: Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2026-74871?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-74871?
CVE-2026-74871 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.2 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-74871?
CVE-2026-74871 is classified under CWE-916: Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort (The product generates a hash for a password, but it uses a scheme that does not provide a sufficient level of computational effort that would make password cracking attacks infeasible or expensive.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-74871?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. 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-pj8r-rv9w-cfg8",
  "modified" : "2026-08-17T12:32:21Z",
  "published" : "2026-08-17T12:32:21Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-74871" ],
  "details" : "openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.6 contain a key derivation flaw in sequential XOR composition mode where the last stage cancels out during key generation. When configured with a single KDF and no prior hashing stage, attackers can bypass memory-hard key derivation and perform offline password cracking at SHA-256 speed instead of the configured KDF cost.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  }, {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-vxf9-vwp6-2w43"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-74871"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openssl-encrypt-before-kdf-bypass-via-sequential-xor"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-916" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-08-17T11:16:41Z"
  }
}