CVE-2026-74894
CRITICAL 9.3openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability in the verify_api_token function that accepts any non-empty Bearer token string without validation. Attackers can upload arbitrary public keys, enumerate all keys, and revoke keys belonging to any user by providing any Bearer token in the Authorization header.
Severe if exploited (CVSS 9.3), but no known exploitation and low modeled probability. Patch on a normal cadence.
Exploitation likelihood
0.4%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 32nd percentile
Impact if exploited
9.3CVSS 4.0 · CRITICAL
- ConfidentialityHigh
- IntegrityHigh
- AvailabilityHigh
What an attacker needs
- ✓Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
- ✓Privileges: No account or privileges required
- ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
- ✓Complexity: No special conditions — reliably repeatable
- ✓Requirements: No special attack requirements
✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it
Proof of concept & exploit code
- github-search Search GitHub for public PoC repos
Test against your own equipment
curl -s https://vulnpedia.com/cve/CVE-2026-74894/poc.jsonMachine-readable PoC index for this CVE (for automation).Listed for defensive triage, patch verification, and authorized testing on systems you own. Machine-readable: /cve/CVE-2026-74894/poc.json
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-287: Improper Authentication
CVSS 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
All CVSS metrics
- CRITICAL 9.3 v4.0 · CNA Primary
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 - CRITICAL 9.8 v3.1 · CNA Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CRITICAL 9.3 v4.0 · NVD Secondary
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/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 - CRITICAL 9.8 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H