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CVE Record

CVE-2026-86219: Authen::SASL::Perl::DIGEST_MD5 versions before 2.2100 for Perl accept replayed authentication responses via unverified nonce in server_step

Authen::SASL::Perl::DIGEST_MD5 versions before 2.2100 for Perl accept replayed authentication responses via unverified nonce in server_step. server_start generates a fresh nonce and sends it in the challenge, and nothing later compares that value against the nonce the client returns. server_step derives the expected digest from the client's own parameters, so a response verifies whenever its digest matches the nonce it carries. The count table it also checks is keyed on the client-supplied nonce and starts empty in each new server object, so a captured first response, carrying `nc=00000001`, passes that too. RFC 2831 defines the nonce in the response as the value the server sent in the preceding challenge. An attacker who observes one successful `qop=auth` exchange can replay the captured response against a later session for the same service, host, realm and user, and authenticate as that user without knowing the password.

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Affected Perl services may accept a previously captured DIGEST-MD5 login response in a new session. An attacker able to observe one successful exchange could impersonate that user without knowing the password, potentially gaining the user’s access and affecting sensitive systems or data.

Executive priority

Treat as an urgent authentication-control issue where vulnerable server-side DIGEST-MD5 is enabled. Rapidly identify exposed services and privileged identities, then upgrade or disable the mechanism. Lower priority only after confirming the package is absent, updated, or not used in the affected server configuration.

Technical view

Before Authen::SASL 2.2100, DIGEST_MD5 server_step does not verify that the client-returned nonce matches the server’s challenge. Digest and nonce-count checks rely on client-supplied state, allowing a captured first qop=auth response to authenticate in a later matching service, host, realm, and user context.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to applications using vulnerable Authen::SASL versions as a server with DIGEST-MD5 and qop=auth. Risk requires an attacker to observe a valid exchange and later reach a compatible authentication endpoint. The bundle does not identify specific downstream applications or deployment prevalence.

Exploitation context

The supplied sources describe a network-replay authentication bypass with low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction after capture. Successful replay requires matching service, host, realm, and user parameters. CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied evidence does not establish active exploitation.

Researcher notes

The defect violates RFC 2831’s requirement that the response nonce equal the preceding server challenge. Because verification derives the expected digest from client-provided parameters and nonce-count state is keyed by that nonce in a fresh server object, cross-session replay can succeed. The cited patch and 2.2100 release notes provide remediation evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Authen::SASL to version 2.2100 or later.
  • Confirm deployed applications load the updated module, not an older bundled copy.
  • Review vendor guidance for applications that embed or constrain Authen::SASL versions.
  • Consider disabling DIGEST-MD5 server authentication until upgrading where operationally feasible.
  • Prioritize systems protecting privileged accounts or sensitive services.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory installed and application-bundled Authen::SASL versions.
  • Identify server-side DIGEST-MD5 configurations using qop=auth.
  • Verify the runtime-loaded module version is 2.2100 or later.
  • Confirm authentication services restarted or redeployed after updating.
  • Use a controlled regression test to confirm prior-session responses are rejected.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
7

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-294: 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.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-86219 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
9.8 (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

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
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
6Source 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
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-86219Attack 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:H

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. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. 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 vendorAuthen-SASLAuthen-SASL, 0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

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

CWE-294 · source CWE mapping

Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay

Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.