CVE-2025-15469

What it is

Issue summary: The 'openssl dgst' command-line tool silently truncates input data to 16MB when using one-shot signing algorithms and reports success instead of an error. Impact summary: A user signing or verifying files larger than 16MB with one-shot algorithms (such as Ed25519, Ed448, or ML-DSA) may believe the entire file is authenticated while trailing data beyond 16MB remains unauthenticated. When the 'openssl dgst' command is used with algorithms that only support one-shot signing (Ed25519, Ed448, ML-DSA-44, ML-DSA-65, ML-DSA-87), the input is buffered with a 16MB limit. If the input exceeds this limit, the tool silently truncates to the first 16MB and continues without signaling an error, contrary to what the documentation states. This creates an integrity gap where trailing bytes can be modified without detection if both signing and verification are performed using the same affected codepath. The issue affects only the command-line tool behavior. Verifiers that process the full message using library APIs will reject the signature, so the risk primarily affects workflows that both sign and verify with the affected 'openssl dgst' command. Streaming digest algorithms for 'openssl dgst' and library users are unaffected. The FIPS modules in 3.5 and 3.6 are not affected by this issue, as the command-line tools are outside the OpenSSL FIPS module boundary. OpenSSL 3.5 and 3.6 are vulnerable to this issue. OpenSSL 3.4, 3.3, 3.0, 1.1.1 and 1.0.2 are not affected by this issue.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data tampering.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2026-01-27 16:16 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 08:37 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Details

Published

2026-01-27 16:16 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 08:37 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-347

Record status

Analyzed

Affected

• OpenSSL < 3.5.5
• OpenSSL < 3.6.1

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

High

Availability

None