CVE-2026-9538

Archive::Tar versions before 3.10 for Perl allow memory exhaustion via attacker controlled entry size field in tar header

Published May 26, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Archive::Tar versions before 3.10 for Perl allow memory exhaustion via attacker controlled entry size field in tar header.

_read_tar() reads each entry's payload with $handle->read($$data, $block), where $block is derived from the entry's 12-byte size field in the tar header with no upper bound on that value.

A crafted header declaring a multi-gigabyte size causes Perl to allocate a scalar of that size.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Upgrade to Archive::Tar 3.10 or later.

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8684-1 Perl vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics 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'}

ssvc

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

cvssV3_1

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Archive\
Archive\ \
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:archive\:\:tar_project:archive\:\:tar:*:*:*:*:*:perl:*:*
Vendors & Products Archive\
Archive\ \
Metrics 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
First Time appeared Bingos
Bingos archive::tar
Vendors & Products Bingos
Bingos archive::tar
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Archive::Tar versions before 3.10 for Perl allow memory exhaustion via attacker controlled entry size field in tar header. _read_tar() reads each entry's payload with $handle->read($$data, $block), where $block is derived from the entry's 12-byte size field in the tar header with no upper bound on that value. A crafted header declaring a multi-gigabyte size causes Perl to allocate a scalar of that size.
Title Archive::Tar versions before 3.10 for Perl allow memory exhaustion via attacker controlled entry size field in tar header
Weaknesses CWE-789
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
CPANSec
Published
Updated
May 28, 2026, 1:16 PM
Reserved
May 25, 2026, 11:04 PM
Status
Modified
Published
May 26, 2026, 2:16 AM
Modified
Jul 23, 2026, 11:10 AM