Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Perl helper library, Module::Load, allowed unsafe module loading before version 0.22. If an attacker can influence the module name an application loads, they may cause unintended code to run. The business risk is highest for Perl services that dynamically load modules from user input, plugins, or untrusted configuration.
Executive priority
Prioritize assessment where Perl applications are internet-facing, multi-tenant, or support user-controlled plugins/configuration. The issue is critical in affected patterns, but not every installation is exploitable.
Technical view
Module::Load before 0.22 accepted module names beginning with "::", enabling paths outside normal @INC resolution to be loaded. The CVE states attackers controlling names passed to load could execute arbitrary code. CVSS is 9.8 critical. Public sources show a 0.22 release and code changes addressing the behavior.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Perl applications using vulnerable Module::Load versions and passing attacker-influenced module names into load. Systems using fixed versions, or only loading hardcoded trusted module names, have materially lower exposure.
Exploitation context
No CISA KEV listing or cited source confirms active exploitation. Exploitation requires influence over the module name passed to Module::Load. The primitive is serious because successful abuse can lead to arbitrary code execution in the application context.
Researcher notes
The strongest evidence is the CVE description, MetaCPAN 0.22 release materials, and the 2011 technical blog explaining unsafe interfaces. The source bundle’s affected-version metadata is sparse, so validate actual package versions and code paths rather than relying only on CPE data.
Mitigation direction
- Identify Perl applications and dependencies using Module::Load.
- Upgrade Module::Load to version 0.22 or later where feasible.
- Remove attacker control over module names passed to load.
- Restrict plugin or configuration sources to trusted administrators.
- Check CPAN/vendor guidance for environment-specific remediation notes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed Module::Load versions across Perl runtimes.
- Review dependency lockfiles, vendored modules, and packaged Perl libraries.
- Search application code for dynamic calls to Module::Load load.
- Verify module names passed to load are hardcoded or strictly trusted.
- Confirm upgraded environments no longer use versions before 0.22.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-145: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2011-10043 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- Source timelineCPANSec
General issue identified by Michael G Schwern in blog post.
- Source timelineCPANSec
Module::Load 0.22 released.
- Source timelineCPANSec
Perl v5.15.4 released with Module::Load 0.22.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://blogs.perl.org/users/michael_g_schwern/2011/10/how-not-to-load-a-module-or-bad-interfaces-make-good-people-do-bad-things.htmlCVE reference, CPANSec · technical-description
- https://metacpan.org/release/BINGOS/Module-Load-0.22/diff/BINGOS/Module-Load-0.20/lib/Module/Load.pmCVE reference, CPANSec
- https://metacpan.org/release/BINGOS/Module-Load-0.22/changesCVE reference, CPANSec · release-notes
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Section Delimiters
Improper Neutralization of Section Delimiters represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.