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MIME::Head for Perl misreads partly encoded multipart boundaries

Priority LOW 29CWE-436Published · Updated

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::Head versions from 5.518 before 5.521 for Perl decode RFC 2047 encoded words anywhere in a multipart boundary without flagging the parse as ambiguous (CWE-436). The ambiguity check only fires when the whole boundary is one encoded word, so ambiguous_content() returns false for partly encoded boundaries. Other mail readers split the message on the literal boundary value, so a remote sender without privileges or user interaction can hide an attachment from a filter that relies on ambiguous_content() while the recipient's mail client shows it.

Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-05

Description from the CNA

MIME::Head versions from 5.518 before 5.521 for Perl decode a partly encoded multipart boundary without flagging the parse as ambiguous. The multipart_boundary() method decodes RFC 2047 encoded words anywhere in the boundary, but the ambiguity check only fires when the whole value is one encoded word. A boundary such as abc=?us-ascii?Q?def?= is used as abcdef, and ambiguous_content() returns false. Encoded words are not allowed in parameters, so other mail readers split the message on the literal value. 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

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00206 10th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial MIME-tools: 5.521Red Hat: 1 without a fix

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
—MIME-tools5.518 to before 5.5215.521Patch availableCNA
  • MIME-tools Vendor— Affected 5.518 to before 5.521 Fixed in 5.521 Patch available CNA

Remediation

Upgrade MIME-tools to version 5.521, the fixed version. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 is affected and Red Hat plans no fix for it.

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 →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-28 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-116266
  2. 2026-10-28 Alias added: GHSA-c5m8-q98x-42wx
  3. 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  4. 2026-10-30 CVSS score added · Red Hat
  5. 2026-11-05 CVSS score added · CISA ADP
  6. 2026-11-05 CISA SSVC decision points changed

References

Sources