External risk intelligence

OpenSSL Encrypt Logging Bug and Race Condition Affects Audit Trails

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.3)

CVE-2026-74885

The vulnerability exists within an internal library function responsible for module management and logging. It relates to local code execution logic and audit trails rather than a network-facing service, API, or public interface, making it unlikely to be reachable via the public internet in standard deployments.

Halo Surface Signal: 1 out of 5 — much less likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A logging bug and a race condition have been identified in a component related to module management, potentially corrupting audit trails and allowing the re-import of blocked modules in specific multi-threaded scenarios. While the primary concern is confirming relevance and exposure, the identified issues could impact the integrity of system logs and security audit trails.

Logging errors and module import issues.
Corrupted audit trails could hinder investigations.
Confirm relevance and verify any impact.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by leveraging a race condition within the `openssl_encrypt` library that affects how module counts are logged and handled, particularly in multi-threaded environments. This could lead to corrupted audit trails and potentially allow for the re-import of modules that were intended to be hidden.

Entry condition: Race condition in multi-threaded environment.
Trigger point: Logging module counts after clearing.
Resulting risk: Corrupted audit trails, module re-import.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could affect the integrity of audit trails within the `openssl_encrypt` library. In multi-threaded environments, a race condition may allow previously hidden modules to be re-imported, potentially corrupting the logging of module counts and undermining the accuracy of audit records.

Corrupted audit trails.
Race condition may re-import modules.
Integrity of log data.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability in `openssl_encrypt` primarily impacts the integrity of audit trails and could lead to unexpected behavior in multi-threaded applications. Application owners or platform teams responsible for secure coding practices and managing dependencies should lead the response. The first practical step is to identify all instances of the affected library, assess the business criticality of applications using it, and confirm their exposure to multi-threaded operations that might trigger the race condition.

Application owners should verify module counts.
Confirm if multi-threaded operations are used.
Plan for dependency updates or code review.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the openssl_encrypt library?

The openssl_encrypt library is a component used for handling cryptographic operations and managing modules within software applications. It includes specific functions for importing, hiding, and logging module activity to maintain security audit trails.

What does CWE-117 mean in CVE-2026-74885?

CWE-117 refers to Improper Output Neutralization for Logs. In this CVE, the vulnerability involves a logging error where the library clears module data before recording the count. This results in inaccurate logs that always show zero restored modules, which corrupts the audit trail and hides actual system activity.

How does the race condition trigger this bug?

The flaw occurs in multi-threaded environments where there is a timing conflict between hiding a module and the installation of import hooks. If multiple threads are active, another thread might re-import a module that was intended to be blocked. This does not occur in single-threaded applications, which lack the concurrent execution required to trigger this specific race condition.

Is CVE-2026-74885 a risk to my public web services?

According to Halo Surface Signal, this is very unlikely. The vulnerability resides in an internal library function responsible for module management, not a public-facing network interface or API. It is primarily a concern for internal process integrity and audit log accuracy rather than direct external network exposure.

How should I respond to this vulnerability?

Begin by auditing your codebase to identify where openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 are utilized. Prioritize applications that operate in multi-threaded environments, as these are susceptible to the race condition. Assess the criticality of these services and plan to update the library to a version where these module management and logging flaws are corrected.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.