Path traversal in Perl CGI upload names lets attackers write files
Key facts
- Attack vector
- —
- Privileges required
- —
- User interaction
- —
- Attack complexity
- —
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- —
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
CGI for Perl versions before 5.00 are affected. The module returns the filename parameter of an upload's Content-Disposition header unchanged, so it can contain ../ sequences or Windows paths, a path traversal flaw (CWE-22). An application that saves uploads under this name can be made to write files outside its intended directory.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-04
Description from the CNA
CGI versions before 5.00 for Perl return upload filenames with any client-supplied path, including ../ and Windows paths. The name returned for an uploaded file is the filename parameter of the part's Content-Disposition header, unchanged. An application that saves the upload under this name can be made to write outside the intended directory.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | CGI | before 5.00 | 5.00 | Patch available | CNA |
- CGI Vendor— Affected before 5.00 Fixed in 5.00 Patch available CNA
Remediation
Upgrade CGI to version 5.00 or later. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9 and 10 are affected. The sources list no fixed version for them.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-04
- Fix · CNA CGI Fixed in 5.00
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
Timeline
- 2026-11-03 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-120641
- 2026-11-04 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-04 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-11-04 Alias added: GHSA-3hqq-f8xf-6qwx
References
Sources
- CVE-2026-120641 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-120641 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-3hqq-f8xf-6qwx · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-120641 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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