CVE-2026-74890: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity in jahlives openssl_encrypt
openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability in CamelliaCipher that disables HMAC tag generation and verification when the PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST environment variable is set. Attackers with code execution can set this environment variable to produce unauthenticated ciphertext and bypass integrity protection on encrypted data.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability in openssl_encrypt prior to version 1.4.0 involves insufficient verification of data authenticity in the CamelliaCipher encryption mode. Specifically, if the PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST environment variable is set, the HMAC tag generation and verification process is disabled, resulting in an authentication bypass. This allows an attacker who can execute code and set this environment variable to create ciphertext that is not properly authenticated, effectively bypassing integrity protections on encrypted data.
Potential Impact
An attacker with the ability to execute code and set the PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST environment variable can bypass the integrity protection of encrypted data by disabling HMAC authentication. This undermines the confidentiality and integrity guarantees of the encryption, potentially allowing tampering or unauthorized data manipulation without detection.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until a fix is available, avoid running openssl_encrypt in environments where the PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST environment variable can be set by untrusted users or processes. Monitor vendor communications for an official fix or update.
CVE-2026-74890: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity in jahlives openssl_encrypt
Description
openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability in CamelliaCipher that disables HMAC tag generation and verification when the PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST environment variable is set. Attackers with code execution can set this environment variable to produce unauthenticated ciphertext and bypass integrity protection on encrypted data.
CVSS v4.0
Score 9.3critical
Affected software
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability in openssl_encrypt prior to version 1.4.0 involves insufficient verification of data authenticity in the CamelliaCipher encryption mode. Specifically, if the PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST environment variable is set, the HMAC tag generation and verification process is disabled, resulting in an authentication bypass. This allows an attacker who can execute code and set this environment variable to create ciphertext that is not properly authenticated, effectively bypassing integrity protections on encrypted data.
Potential Impact
An attacker with the ability to execute code and set the PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST environment variable can bypass the integrity protection of encrypted data by disabling HMAC authentication. This undermines the confidentiality and integrity guarantees of the encryption, potentially allowing tampering or unauthorized data manipulation without detection.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until a fix is available, avoid running openssl_encrypt in environments where the PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST environment variable can be set by untrusted users or processes. Monitor vendor communications for an official fix or update.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- VulnCheck
- Date Reserved
- 2026-08-17T10:42:40.455Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a82f004bf8831d539c4836e
Added to database: 08/17/2026, 11:27:00 UTC
Last enriched: 08/17/2026, 11:42:09 UTC
Last updated: 08/17/2026, 20:48:01 UTC
Views: 7
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