CVE-2026-74887: openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Insecure Random Import in PQC Module

Published Aug 17, 2026
·
Updated

opensslencrypt before 1.4.0 imports Python's non-cryptographic 'random' module (Mersenne Twister PRNG) at line 15 of opensslencrypt/modules/pqc.py. No direct calls to random. were present in the code, so no cryptographic operation is currently affected; however, the import creates a hazard that future code could inadvertently use random.randint() instead of a cryptographically secure alternative (secrets/os.urandom), producing predictable values since the Mersenne Twister state can be recovered from approximately 624 outputs. Fixed by removing the import in 1.4.0.

Affected Software

1 affected component
OpenSSL OpenSSL<1.4.0

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade openssl_encrypt/modules/pqc.py to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1.4.0

Event History

Aug 17, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·11:04 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·11:04 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·11:16 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-74887?

The severity of CVE-2026-74887 is classified as low.

2

What is the main issue with CVE-2026-74887?

CVE-2026-74887 involves an insecure random import in the PQC module of openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0.

3

How do I mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2026-74887?

To mitigate risks associated with CVE-2026-74887, upgrade to version 1.4.0 or later of openssl_encrypt.

4

Does CVE-2026-74887 affect cryptographic operations?

No, CVE-2026-74887 does not currently affect any cryptographic operations directly.

5

What is the cause of CVE-2026-74887?

CVE-2026-74887 is caused by the import of Python's non-cryptographic 'random' module in the openssl_encrypt code.

Contact

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