How severe is CVE-2026-74873?

CVE-2026-74873 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2026-74873 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (14th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2026-74873?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2026-74873 published?

CVE-2026-74873 was published on 2026-08-17.

CVE-2026-74873

CVE-2026-74873 is a medium-severity vulnerability with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-214.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
CVSS v4: 8.7
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (14th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-214
Published: 2026-08-17
Last modified: 2026-08-17

Description

openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 expose passwords passed via the --password CLI argument in process listings accessible to all system users. Attackers can read process arguments through ps aux or /proc/[pid]/cmdline to retrieve plaintext passwords and keystore passwords.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-74873?: openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 expose passwords passed via the --password CLI argument in process listings accessible to all system users. Attackers can read process arguments through ps aux or /proc/[pid]/cmdline to retrieve plaintext passwords and keystore passwords.
How severe is CVE-2026-74873?: CVE-2026-74873 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2026-74873 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (14th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How do I fix CVE-2026-74873?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2026-74873 published?: CVE-2026-74873 was published on 2026-08-17.

References

Other CWE-214 vulnerabilities

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