Net::OAuth up to 0.31 Smart Require smart_require signature_method memory allocation

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Net::OAuth up to 0.31. Impacted is the function smart_require of the component Smart Require. The manipulation of the argument signature_method leads to memory allocation. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-72888. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Net::OAuth up to 0.31. This issue affects the function smart_require of the component Smart Require. The manipulation of the argument signature_method with an unknown input leads to a memory allocation vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-789. The product allocates memory based on an untrusted, large size value, but it does not ensure that the size is within expected limits, allowing arbitrary amounts of memory to be allocated. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

Net::OAuth versions before 0.32 for Perl allow memory exhaustion via unbounded caching of failed module loads in smart_require. smart_require stores results in a process-global hash with no bound and no eviction, and keeps an entry for every class name it is asked about, including names that failed to load, because the return value of the failed eval is stored before the error is checked. The key comes off the wire on the server side: _signature_method_class builds the class name from the signature_method parameter of the incoming message, and verify resolves it before any signature is checked. A remote client chooses both how many entries are created and how long each key is. In a persistent server the hash grows for the life of the worker process until it exhausts memory. Header size limits bound the key length on the Authorization header path, but not on a POST body.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-72888 since 08/10/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 335914 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-72888), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 0.32 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (335914). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Name

• Net::OAuth

Version

• 0.1
• 0.2
• 0.3
• 0.4
• 0.5
• 0.6
• 0.7
• 0.8
• 0.9
• 0.10
• 0.11
• 0.12
• 0.13
• 0.14
• 0.15
• 0.16
• 0.17
• 0.18
• 0.19
• 0.20
• 0.21
• 0.22
• 0.23
• 0.24
• 0.25
• 0.26
• 0.27
• 0.28
• 0.29
• 0.30
• 0.31

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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