Summary
openssl-encrypt has visible password in process list via --password CLI argument
Passwords passed via the --password / -p CLI argument in openssl_encrypt/modules/crypt_cli_subparser.py at lines 150-154 are visible to any user on the system via ps aux or /proc/[pid]/cmdline.
Affected Code
subparser.add_argument(
"--password", "-p",
help="Password (will prompt if not provided, or use CRYPT_PASSWORD environment variable)",
)
Similarly, --keystore-password exposes the keystore password.
Fix
Fixed in commit e78a366 on branch releases/1.4.x, added --password-file and --password-fd arguments; added OPENSSL_ENCRYPT_PASSWORD env var support; --password now emits deprecation warning.
Impact
On multi-user systems, any user can observe the encryption password by listing processes. The CRYPT_PASSWORD environment variable alternative is also visible via /proc/[pid]/environ (though with slightly restricted access).
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
Already deployed Kodem?
See it in your environmentNew to Kodem? Get a demo →Remediation advice
- Document the security implications prominently
- Recommend interactive prompting (already supported) as the secure default
- Consider supporting password file descriptors (
--password-fd) or reading from stdin - Consider marking the argument as deprecated in favor of interactive prompting
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is GHSA-H3M5-P59H-X88P? GHSA-H3M5-P59H-X88P is a medium-severity security vulnerability in openssl-encrypt (pip), affecting versions < 1.4.0. It is fixed in 1.4.0.
- Which versions of openssl-encrypt are affected by GHSA-H3M5-P59H-X88P? openssl-encrypt (pip) versions < 1.4.0 is affected.
- Is there a fix for GHSA-H3M5-P59H-X88P? Yes. GHSA-H3M5-P59H-X88P is fixed in 1.4.0. Upgrade to this version or later.
- Is GHSA-H3M5-P59H-X88P exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether GHSA-H3M5-P59H-X88P is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether GHSA-H3M5-P59H-X88P is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.
- How do I fix GHSA-H3M5-P59H-X88P? Upgrade
openssl-encryptto 1.4.0 or later.