TI-2026-82119 Aliases CVE-2026-116273 GHSA-xrpv-r4cr-x2x4

Missing part limit in Perl MIME::Parser allows memory exhaustion

LOW 39CWE-1188Published 2026-10-28 · Updated 2026-11-05

Key facts

Attack vector: Network
Privileges required: None
User interaction: None
Attack complexity: Low
Impact type: Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability: None · None · High
Fix status: Partial Red Hat: 1 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-770.

Summary

MIME::Parser for Perl (MIME-tools) versions before 5.521 set no limit on the number of message parts by default because the max_parts option defaults to -1. An unauthenticated remote attacker can send a crafted message with many parts to exhaust memory, since the parser builds an entity for every part (CWE-770).

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

Description from the CNA

MIME::Parser versions before 5.521 for Perl set no limit on the number of message parts by default, allowing memory exhaustion. The max_parts option defaulted to -1, which disables the limit, so a parser created with default settings builds an entity for every part however many a message has. Version 5.521 sets max_parts to 1000 and max_depth to 64 by default. Setting either to -1 still removes the limit.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV

EPSS 0.00292 21st 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

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

Upgrade MIME-tools to version 5.521, which sets max_parts to 1000 and max_depth to 64 by default. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 is affected with no fix available yet, and Red Hat rates this issue Important.

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: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

Product	Status	Plan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6	Affected	No fix yet

Timeline

2026-10-28 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-116273
2026-10-28 Alias added: GHSA-xrpv-r4cr-x2x4
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

Other 1

https://metacpan.org/release/DSKOLL/MIME-tools-5.521/changes

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences