Crypt::Age up to 0.003 Header Parser unwrap_file_key resource consumption

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Crypt::Age up to 0.003. Affected by this vulnerability is the function unwrap_file_key of the component Header Parser. The manipulation results in resource consumption. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-85783. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Crypt::Age up to 0.003. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function unwrap_file_key of the component Header Parser. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a resource consumption vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-400. The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource, thereby enabling an actor to influence the amount of resources consumed, eventually leading to the exhaustion of available resources. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

Crypt::Age versions before 0.004 for Perl allow CPU exhaustion via an unbounded number of recipient stanzas, each costing an X25519 scalar multiplication in unwrap_file_key. The header parser accepts any number of recipient stanzas, and unwrap_file_key tries every identity against every X25519 stanza. Each attempt runs a scalar multiplication, an HKDF and a ChaCha20-Poly1305 open. The header MAC cannot be checked first, because its key comes from the file key, which only a successful unwrap produces. Each stanza is 98 bytes of attacker-chosen header and buys one scalar multiplication per identity held, and the file is rejected only after every one of them has run. A caller reaches this through decrypt, decrypt_file or decrypt_filehandle whenever it decrypts a file it did not write.

The advisory is available at metacpan.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-85783 since 09/04/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. This vulnerability is assigned to T1499 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Upgrading to version 0.004 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Name

• Crypt::Age

Version

• 0.003

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒

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