CVE-2026-116268

MIME::Field::ParamVal versions before 5.521 for Perl allow CPU exhaustion via unclosed comments in header parameters

Published Oct 28, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
MIME::Field::ParamVal versions before 5.521 for Perl allow CPU exhaustion via unclosed comments in header parameters.

The comment pattern used to parse Content-Type and Content-Disposition parameters scans from each "(" to the next ")". In a field with no ")", every "(" scans to the end of the header and fails, so parsing takes time quadratic in the header length. The field is parsed again on each attribute lookup, several times per MIME entity.

A 40 KB header takes about 7 seconds to parse once.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Upgrade to MIME-tools 5.521 or later.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Perl
Perl mime::field::paramval
Vendors & Products Perl
Perl mime::field::paramval
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description MIME::Field::ParamVal versions before 5.521 for Perl allow CPU exhaustion via unclosed comments in header parameters. The comment pattern used to parse Content-Type and Content-Disposition parameters scans from each "(" to the next ")". In a field with no ")", every "(" scans to the end of the header and fails, so parsing takes time quadratic in the header length. The field is parsed again on each attribute lookup, several times per MIME entity. A 40 KB header takes about 7 seconds to parse once.
Title MIME::Field::ParamVal versions before 5.521 for Perl allow CPU exhaustion via unclosed comments in header parameters
Weaknesses CWE-1333
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
CPANSec
Published
Updated
Nov 5, 2026, 8:30 PM
Reserved
Oct 25, 2026, 6:05 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Oct 28, 2026, 6:17 PM
Modified
Nov 5, 2026, 9:18 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 28, 2026, 5:33 PM