2026-10-28 17:34CVE-2026-116271CPANSec
PUBLISHED5.2CWE-59

MIME::Parser::FileUnder versions before 5.521 for Perl reuse a pre-created output directory and follow symlinks in it, letting local users redirect attachment writes

MIME::Parser::FileUnder versions before 5.521 for Perl reuse a pre-created output directory and follow symlinks in it, letting local users redirect attachment writes.

Each message is written to a directory named msg-<time>-<pid>-<n> under the output base, and an existing directory of that name is used as is. A file name counts as unused when nothing exists at that path, which holds for a dangling symlink, and the body file is then opened in a way that follows the link.

When the output base is writable by other users, as with output_under("/tmp"), a local user can pre-create the directory with a symlink named like an attachment. The parser then writes the attachment to the link target with the privileges of the parsing process.

Problem type

Affected products

< 5.521 - AFFECTED

References

JSON source

https://cveawg.mitre.org/api/cve/CVE-2026-116271
Click to expand
{
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "cveMetadata": {
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-116271",
    "assignerOrgId": "9b29abf9-4ab0-4765-b253-1875cd9b441e",
    "assignerShortName": "CPANSec",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-10-28T17:34:06.757Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-10-25T18:05:02.236Z",
    "datePublished": "2026-10-28T17:34:06.757Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "containers": {
    "cna": {
      "providerMetadata": {
        "orgId": "9b29abf9-4ab0-4765-b253-1875cd9b441e",
        "shortName": "CPANSec",
        "dateUpdated": "2026-10-28T17:34:06.757Z"
      },
      "title": "MIME::Parser::FileUnder versions before 5.521 for Perl reuse a pre-created output directory and follow symlinks in it, letting local users redirect attachment writes",
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "MIME::Parser::FileUnder versions before 5.521 for Perl reuse a pre-created output directory and follow symlinks in it, letting local users redirect attachment writes.\n\nEach message is written to a directory named msg-<time>-<pid>-<n> under the output base, and an existing directory of that name is used as is. A file name counts as unused when nothing exists at that path, which holds for a dangling symlink, and the body file is then opened in a way that follows the link.\n\nWhen the output base is writable by other users, as with output_under(\"/tmp\"), a local user can pre-create the directory with a symlink named like an attachment. The parser then writes the attachment to the link target with the privileges of the parsing process."
        }
      ],
      "affected": [
        {
          "collectionURL": "https://cpan.org/modules",
          "packageName": "MIME-tools",
          "modules": [
            "MIME::Parser::FileUnder"
          ],
          "programFiles": [
            "lib/MIME/Parser/Filer.pm",
            "lib/MIME/Body.pm"
          ],
          "programRoutines": [
            {
              "name": "MIME::Parser::FileUnder::init_parse"
            },
            {
              "name": "MIME::Parser::Filer::find_unused_path"
            }
          ],
          "repo": "https://salsa.debian.org/dskoll/mime-tools",
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "versions": [
            {
              "version": "0",
              "status": "affected",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "lessThan": "5.521"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "description": "CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')",
              "cweId": "CWE-59",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://metacpan.org/release/DSKOLL/MIME-tools-5.521/changes",
          "tags": [
            "release-notes"
          ]
        }
      ],
      "solutions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Upgrade to MIME-tools 5.521 or later."
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}