CGI for Perl returns request values untainted under taint mode
Key facts
- Attack vector
- —
- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
- —
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- 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 return request-derived values without the taint flag when Perl's taint mode is in use. The upload filename, uploadInfo values, some path_info and script_name values, and cookie names are returned untainted because they come from regex captures or hash keys, which Perl does not taint. Taint checks therefore pass these values without validation, which is the weakness recorded as CWE-1173.
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 request-derived values untainted under taint mode. The upload filename, uploadInfo values, some path_info and script_name values, Accept results, and the name lists from url_param and cookie are returned without the taint flag, as is a cookie named expires from 4.67 on. These values come from regex captures or hash keys, which Perl does not taint, so they pass -T checks unvalidated.
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 for Perl to version 5.00, which fixes this flaw. Red Hat lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9 and 10 as affected with the plan none available.
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-2026-120642
- 2026-11-04 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-04 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-11-04 Alias added: GHSA-mqfc-h2mx-w8gc
References
Sources
- CVE-2026-120642 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-120642 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mqfc-h2mx-w8gc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-120642 · 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