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CVE-2026-111879 perl5-dbi CVE debrief

A vulnerability in DBI versions before 1.656 for Perl can cause a hang when opening a DBD::DBM table after a failed open_data operation, as the table's lock is not released. This issue arises because the open_data function creates the table's lock file and takes an exclusive flock on it for a CREATE operation, before performing checks that can fail, such as a dbm_mldbm value that is not a module name, a failing tie, or a missing data file. If these checks fail, the croak unwinds before the table object is blessed, preventing the lock from being released, and the metadata holding the open descriptor stays cached on the database handle. The dbm_mldbm and dbm_type values are derived

Vendor
perl5-dbi
Product
DBI
CVSS
Unknown
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-10-20
Original CVE updated
2026-10-30
Advisory published
2026-10-20
Advisory updated
2026-10-30

Who should care

Defenders responsible for Perl applications using DBI and DBD::DBM tables should be aware of this vulnerability and take steps to upgrade to a fixed version. They should verify their DBI version and review affected systems and applications. Defenders should prioritize upgrading to DBI version 1.656 or later to prevent potential hangs when working with DBD::DBM tables. This vulnerability can cause denial of service and resource exhaustion due to locked

Why it matters

Defenders should prioritize upgrading to DBI version 1.656 or later to prevent potential hangs when working with DBD::DBM tables. This vulnerability can cause denial of service and resource exhaustion due to locked tables. Defenders responsible for Perl applications using DBI and DBD::DBM tables should verify their DBI version and take steps to upgrade to a fixed version.

  • Potential hangs when opening DBD::DBM tables
  • Denial of service due to unresponsive applications
  • Need for verification of DBI version and affected systems
  • Potential for resource exhaustion due to locked tables

Technical summary

The vulnerability is caused by a failed open_data operation not releasing the table's lock, which can lead to a hang when opening the table later. The issue is fixed in DBI version 1.656. This vulnerability affects Perl applications using DBI and DBD::DBM tables. Defenders should prioritize upgrading to DBI version 1.656 or later to prevent potential hangs when working with DBD::DBM tables. The open_data function creates the table's lock file and takes an exclusive flock on it for a CREATE operation, before performing checks that can fail.

Defensive priority

Defenders should prioritize upgrading to DBI version 1.656 or later to prevent potential hangs when working with DBD::DBM tables.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Upgrade to DBI version 1.656 or later
  • Review and update affected systems and applications
  • Monitor for potential hangs when working with DBD::DBM tables
  • Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up
  • Review the supplied official advisory or CVE record to validate affected scope, severity, and vendor guidance
  • Plan vendor-supported updates or mitigations through normal change control where exposure is confirmed
  • Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review

Evidence notes

The vulnerability is caused by a failed open_data operation not releasing the table's lock, which can lead to a hang when opening the table later. The issue is fixed in DBI version 1.656. Evidence from the CVE Program record and the NVD detail page confirms this vulnerability. Defenders should verify their DBI version and take steps to upgrade to a fixed version. The open_data function creates the table's lock file and takes an exclusive flock on it for a CREATE operation, before performing checks that can fail. If these checks fail,

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-111879 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-111879

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2026-111879 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-111879

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.