Invalid Content-Type parameter hides multipart boundary in MIME-tools
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · Low · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
MIME-tools for Perl versions before 5.521 stop parsing Content-Type parameters at the first parameter whose name cannot be read, such as one containing an 8-bit byte, and drop every parameter after it (CWE-436). A remote sender can use this to hide the multipart boundary, so MIME::Parser keeps the body as one undecoded part without marking the parse as ambiguous. Filters that rely on ambiguous_content() can then miss an attachment that the recipient's mail client still shows.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-05
Description from the CNA
MIME::Field::ParamVal versions before 5.521 for Perl allow one invalid Content-Type parameter to hide the parameters after it, including the multipart boundary. Parameter parsing stops at the first parameter whose name it cannot read, such as x:y=1 or a name containing an 8-bit byte, and drops every parameter after it. When the boundary is among them, MIME::Parser keeps the multipart body as a single undecoded part without marking the parse as ambiguous. Mail readers that skip the invalid parameter still find the boundary. A remote sender can hide an attachment from a filter that relies on ambiguous_content() while the recipient's mail client shows it.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | MIME-tools | before 5.521 | 5.521 | Patch available | CNA |
- MIME-tools Vendor— Affected before 5.521 Fixed in 5.521 Patch available CNA
Remediation
Update MIME-tools to version 5.521 or later. Red Hat plans no fix for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-05
- Fix · CNA MIME-tools Fixed in 5.521
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
Timeline
- 2026-10-28 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-116264
- 2026-10-28 Alias added: GHSA-8mr9-wfcj-h3rm
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-11-05 CVSS score added · CISA ADP
- 2026-11-05 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Sources
- CVE-2026-116264 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-116264 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-8mr9-wfcj-h3rm · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-116264 · 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