CVE-2026-72888
Net::OAuth versions before 0.32 for Perl allow memory exhaustion via unbounded caching of failed module loads in smart_require
Published Aug 16, 2026
CVSS 3.1 · 6.5 Medium
EPSS < 1%
KEV · Not listed
Description
Net::OAuth versions before 0.32 for Perl allow memory exhaustion via unbounded caching of failed module loads in smart_require.
smart_require stores results in a process-global hash with no bound and no eviction, and keeps an entry for every class name it is asked about, including names that failed to load, because the return value of the failed eval is stored before the error is checked. The key comes off the wire on the server side: _signature_method_class builds the class name from the signature_method parameter of the incoming message, and verify resolves it before any signature is checked.
A remote client chooses both how many entries are created and how long each key is. In a persistent server the hash grows for the life of the worker process until it exhausts memory. Header size limits bound the key length on the Authorization header path, but not on a POST body.
smart_require stores results in a process-global hash with no bound and no eviction, and keeps an entry for every class name it is asked about, including names that failed to load, because the return value of the failed eval is stored before the error is checked. The key comes off the wire on the server side: _signature_method_class builds the class name from the signature_method parameter of the incoming message, and verify resolves it before any signature is checked.
A remote client chooses both how many entries are created and how long each key is. In a persistent server the hash grows for the life of the worker process until it exhausts memory. Header size limits bound the key length on the Authorization header path, but not on a POST body.
Affected Products
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CVE record
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NVD configurations
No data
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Red Hat packages
No data
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OpenCVE enrichment
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | ||||||
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| unaffected |
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No data.
No data.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | ||||||||
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| Vurtdev | Net-oauth |
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Remediation
Vendor Solution
Upgrade to Net-OAuth 0.32 or later.
Tracking
Advisories
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0
Attack Vector Network
Attack Complexity Low
Privileges Required Low
Scope Unchanged
Confidentiality Impact None
Integrity Impact None
Availability Impact High
User Interaction None
No CVSS v3.0
No CVSS v2
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.548% probability within 30 days)
Exploitation none
Automatable no
Technical Impact partial
References
History
Aug 17, 2026 5:30 PM
Scoring metrics updated
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| Metrics |
cvssV3_1
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Aug 17, 2026 11:30 AM
First appearance in the feed. Affected vendors updated
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| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
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| First Time appeared |
Vurtdev
Vurtdev net-oauth |
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| Vendors & Products |
Vurtdev
Vurtdev net-oauth |
Aug 16, 2026 5:30 PM
Added references
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| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
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| References |
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Aug 16, 2026 2:00 PM
Description updated. Title updated. Weaknesses updated. Added references
View changes
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Net::OAuth versions before 0.32 for Perl allow memory exhaustion via unbounded caching of failed module loads in smart_require. smart_require stores results in a process-global hash with no bound and no eviction, and keeps an entry for every class name it is asked about, including names that failed to load, because the return value of the failed eval is stored before the error is checked. The key comes off the wire on the server side: _signature_method_class builds the class name from the signature_method parameter of the incoming message, and verify resolves it before any signature is checked. A remote client chooses both how many entries are created and how long each key is. In a persistent server the hash grows for the life of the worker process until it exhausts memory. Header size limits bound the key length on the Authorization header path, but not on a POST body. | |
| Title | Net::OAuth versions before 0.32 for Perl allow memory exhaustion via unbounded caching of failed module loads in smart_require | |
| Weaknesses | CWE-770 | |
| References |
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Weaknesses
