CVE-2026-85491

CVE-2026-85491

Catalyst::Seal versions before 0.03 for Perl allow one request to disable a path or route a later one past an authorization check via a dispatch memo keyed on the request path alone. Catalyst::Seal replaces the dispatcher's prepare_action with a version that memoises how a path resolved: which dispatch type matched, at which level, and what was left over as arguments. The key is the request path and nothing else. Action roles that match on the method, content type, scheme or query make that resolution depend on state the key does not carry, so the memo answers for a request it was not built from. A path that resolves to no action is memoised as well, and replaying that entry returns without consulting any dispatch type, so no action is set and the request fails. A GET of a path whose action is declared POST-only therefore disables that path for every later request, the correct POST included. An entry that did resolve replays the level the earlier descent reached. Where a POST-only action sits below a shallower action on the same path, a GET memoises the shallow route, and a later POST is dispatched there with an auto() guarding the deeper controller never running. The memo is cleared only when an action is registered, which happens at setup, so an entry lasts for the life of the process, and its cap of 2048 entries bounds how many paths one caller can disable. In the configuration measured, the misroute lands on the less privileged action, so it is an authorization check not running rather than a privilege gain.

Published · last modified .

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 8.8 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.004 (29.6th percentile), scored .

Very low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; routine patching cadence is appropriate. 30th percentile — 29.6% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS trend (30 days)EPSS over the last 30 days for CVE-2026-85491: held from 0.004 to 0.004.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.004 · newest: 0.004 · change: 0.000

Weakness classification (CWE)

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-85491?
CVE-2026-85491 is a high-severity vulnerability, classified under Use of Incorrectly-Resolved Name or Reference. CVSS score: 8.8/10. Published 2026-09-24.
How severe is CVE-2026-85491?
High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 8.8 out of 10.