CVE-2026-5091

Password inference via variable-time comparisons

Published May 21, 2026 · Updated May 21, 2026

Observable timing discrepancy in Catalyst::Plugin::Authentication through 0.10024 allows attackers to infer password data during login. The check_password routine in Password.pm uses Perl's variable-time eq operator to compare attacker-supplied passwords with stored clear, crypted, and hashed values. Reachability requires a Catalyst application configured with the Password credential verifier and repeated authentication attempts; the bounded consequence is indirect disclosure that assists guessing a stored hash or password.

CVSS severity5.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Observable timing discrepancy in Catalyst::Plugin::Authentication through 0.10024 allows attackers to infer password data during login. The check_password routine in Password.pm uses Perl's variable-time eq operator to compare attacker-supplied passwords with stored clear, crypted, and hashed values. Reachability requires a Catalyst application configured with the Password credential verifier and repeated authentication attempts; the bounded consequence is indirect disclosure that assists guessing a stored hash or password.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-5091
Published
May 21, 2026
Updated
May 21, 2026
Vendor
Catalyst
Product
Catalyst::Plugin::Authentication
Classifications
CWE-208, T1110.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 21, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=0.10024

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Catalyst · Catalyst::Plugin::Authenticationversion=0 <=0.10024

Published CVSS scores

5.1CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-208Observable Timing Discrepancy
T1110.001Password Guessing

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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