Memory leak in Text::CSV_XS for Perl on malformed CSV records
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-401.
Summary
Text::CSV_XS versions before 1.65 for Perl leak memory when getline meets a record with a syntax error. The function returns undef without freeing the array or the fields it parsed before the error (CWE-401). An attacker who supplies malformed CSV to a long-running process that parses untrusted input can exhaust its memory, though user interaction is required.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
Text::CSV_XS versions before 1.65 for Perl leak the parsed fields of a record that fails to parse in getline. getline collects the fields of a record into a new array and returns a reference to it only when the parse succeeds. When the record has a syntax error, getline returns undef and never frees the array or the fields parsed before the error. A long-running process parsing untrusted CSV retains every malformed record it is sent, so repeated malformed input exhausts its memory.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Text-CSV_XS | before 1.65 | 1.65 | Patch available | CNA |
- Text-CSV_XS Vendor— Affected before 1.65 Fixed in 1.65 Patch available CNA
Remediation
Upgrade Text-CSV_XS to version 1.65, which fixes the flaw. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 9 and 10 are affected with no fix plan available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
- Fix · CNA Text-CSV_XS Fixed in 1.65
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-110754
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-v7vg-mqfq-633j
- 2026-10-18 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-18 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-20 CVSS score added · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-20 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Sources
- CVE-2026-110754 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-110754 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-v7vg-mqfq-633j · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-110754 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences