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CVE Record

CVE-2018-6913: Heap-based buffer overflow in the pack function in Perl before 5.26.2 allows context-dependent attackers to...

Heap-based buffer overflow in the pack function in Perl before 5.26.2 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a large item count.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Perl before 5.26.2 has a memory corruption flaw in pack(). If an application lets untrusted input drive very large packing counts, an attacker may crash the process or potentially run code under that process's privileges. Business urgency depends on whether Perl code paths process untrusted data.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority legacy runtime patching issue, not as a confirmed active-exploitation emergency. Focus on systems where Perl processes external input or runs with elevated privileges.

Technical view

CVE-2018-6913 is a heap-based buffer overflow in Perl's pack function triggered by a large item count. The CVE text says context-dependent attackers may execute arbitrary code. Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, and Oracle references show this was handled through vendor security advisories or updates.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on servers, appliances, or applications still running Perl before 5.26.2, especially where Perl scripts process attacker-controlled input. Vendor-packaged Perl on Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, and Oracle-managed environments should be checked against their advisories.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitability is context-dependent: an attacker needs a reachable Perl code path using pack() with a large item count influenced by untrusted data.

Researcher notes

The source bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, detailed affected CPEs, and exploit telemetry. Analysis is based on the CVE description and vendor advisory references; validation should rely on installed package versions and vendor backport status.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Perl to 5.26.2 or vendor-fixed packages.
  • Apply relevant Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, or Oracle security updates.
  • Check vendor guidance for backported fixes in supported distributions.
  • Prioritize internet-facing or data-processing Perl workloads first.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Perl versions across servers and containers.
  • Confirm vendor package changelogs include CVE-2018-6913 fixes.
  • Review Perl applications for pack() use on untrusted input.
  • Verify no unsupported Perl runtimes remain in production.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution 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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2018-6913 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

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.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
8Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.