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CVE Record

CVE-2022-4993: HTML::FormHandler versions before 0.410000 for Perl allow attacker selected method dispatch and resource exhaustion because _apply_actions and add_error use error message text built from request data as a Locale::Maketext bracket notation template

HTML::FormHandler versions before 0.410000 for Perl allow attacker selected method dispatch and resource exhaustion because _apply_actions and add_error use error message text built from request data as a Locale::Maketext bracket notation template. add_error hands its first argument to the language handle as the Locale::Maketext message key, and the default handle's lexicon sets `_AUTO`, so a string that is not a lexicon entry is compiled as a bracket notation template instead of being looked up. In a bracket group the first token names a method called on the language handle and the remaining tokens are its arguments. Three kinds of text the library did not author reach that position. _apply_actions installs a `$SIG{__WARN__}` handler that stores the warning text in `$error_message`, and a captured warning survives a successful action, so a field carrying a numeric transform turns `Argument "[sprintf,%50000000d,0]" isn't numeric` into the template; a warning quotes the submitted value verbatim, so the group is well formed and dispatches. `$error_message ||= $tobj->validate($new_value)` takes a type constraint's own failure message, which renders the rejected value through a partial dumper in bracket and comma form (Devel::PartialDump when Moose can load it, Type::Tiny's own dumper always), so a field with `apply => [ Str ]` given a parameter sent more than once, which arrives as an array, gets `Reference ["a","b"] did not pass type constraint "Str"` as its template, from a request that carries no bracket character of its own. A coercion or transform exception reaches it the same way. Beyond those, a validator whose message contains the field value puts that value in the template directly, and add_error replaces the message list with the contents of an arrayref first argument (`@message = @{$message[0]} if ref $message[0] eq 'ARRAY'`), so a value arriving as an array fills the argument slots from the same request as well. A malformed group such as `[0]` makes the compile croak, and HTML::FormHandler::I18N::maketext and add_error each re-raise that as a die, so process() throws. A well formed group naming sprintf reaches CORE::sprintf with an attacker chosen field width. Any caller that applies a type constraint or a transform to an untrusted field, or whose validator passes an untrusted field value to add_error, can be made to throw an unhandled exception out of process(), or to allocate an arbitrary amount of memory in one request, and an application whose language handle subclass defines side effecting public methods makes those callable with attacker chosen arguments. The dumped type constraint message is bounded to the exception, because both dumpers quote non-numeric elements so the method slot is never an attacker chosen name. The built-in messages pass fixed templates with the value in an argument slot, where it stays inert, and the built-in field types attach explicit message callbacks, so neither is affected.

CriticalCVSS 9.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A vulnerable Perl form-processing library can mistake attacker-controlled error text for executable localization instructions. A remote, unauthenticated request may crash form processing, consume excessive memory, or invoke public methods exposed by a customized language handler. Impact depends on how the application validates and transforms untrusted fields.

Executive priority

Prioritize rapid remediation for internet-facing applications that process untrusted forms with this library. The issue can be triggered without authentication and may disrupt service or invoke application-specific methods. Lower urgency only after confirming the package is absent, remediated, or used exclusively outside the affected paths.

Technical view

HTML::FormHandler before 0.410000 passes certain warning, type-constraint, transform, coercion, or validator messages into Locale::Maketext as templates. Bracket notation can trigger method dispatch; malformed templates can throw exceptions, while formatting operations can exhaust memory. Customized language-handle methods may introduce additional side effects.

Likely exposure

Exposure exists where a Perl application uses a vulnerable HTML::FormHandler version and applies constraints, coercions, transforms, or affected custom validators to request-controlled fields. Built-in messages using fixed templates and built-in field types with explicit callbacks are reported unaffected.

Exploitation context

The supplied record describes network-reachable, low-complexity, unauthenticated exploitation without user interaction and assigns CVSS 9.1. However, it is not listed as KEV, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

The broadest attacker-selected method dispatch arises when warning or validator text includes supplied bracket notation. Type-constraint dumpers limit control of the method name, although their messages can still become templates. Exact consequences beyond exceptions and memory exhaustion depend on application-defined language-handle methods. No exploit-in-the-wild evidence is supplied.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade HTML::FormHandler to version 0.410000 or later; use the referenced 0.410001 release where compatible.
  • Review custom validators and language-handle subclasses for attacker-controlled error text or side-effecting public methods.
  • Until upgraded, restrict untrusted inputs reaching affected constraints, coercions, transforms, and custom error handling.
  • Check vendor release notes and patch details before deployment.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Perl dependency manifests and resolved versions for HTML::FormHandler releases earlier than 0.410000.
  • Trace request-controlled fields into constraints, coercions, transforms, custom validators, and add_error calls.
  • Identify customized language-handle subclasses and review their public methods for side effects.
  • After upgrading, run regression tests covering rejected, repeated, malformed, and unusually large form values.
  • Confirm production dependency resolution uses the remediated version, not an older transitive or vendored copy.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
8

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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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-1336: Exact CWE lookup

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-470: 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.

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description · low confidence lookup

Credential and access behavior lookup

The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2022-4993 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.1 (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:N

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.

1CVSS vectors
9Timeline events
1ADP providers
8Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: yesTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
9.1CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N3.95.2CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.1Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2022-4993Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. Source timelineCPANSec

    Issue was first reported to author without a proof of concept.

  2. Source timelineCPANSec

    Issue was forwarded to CPANSec.

  3. Source timelineCPANSec

    Investigation and development of proof of concept by CPANSec, aided by LLM tooling.

  4. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  5. Source timelineCPANSec

    Issue was again reported to author with proof of concept.

  6. Source timelineCPANSec

    Additional analysis and development of patch by CPANSec, aided by LLM tooling.

  7. Source timelineCPANSec

    CVE-2022-4993 published

  8. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  9. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Unknown vendorHTML-FormHandlerHTML-FormHandler, 0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

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

CWE-1336 · source CWE mapping

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

CWE-470 · source CWE mapping

Use of Externally-Controlled Input to Select Classes or Code ('Unsafe Reflection')

Use of Externally-Controlled Input to Select Classes or Code ('Unsafe Reflection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.