CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2026-8500 — Web::Passwd versions through 0.03 for Perl is vulnerable to RCE

Critical CVSS 9.8

Web::Passwd versions through 0.03 for Perl is vulnerable to RCE. Web::Passwd is a small CGI application for managing htpasswd files using the htpasswd command. The user parameter is not validated or escaped, and is used as the last argument on the command line, allowing for command injection.

Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.8 (3.1)
Published
2026-05-13
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
software/application
Weaknesses
CWE-78

Affected products

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Matched remediation archetype

Command, code, expression, and template injection

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Check exposure

  • Trace untrusted values to process execution, interpreters, evaluators, template engines, dynamic imports, and administrative scripting features.
  • Determine whether the affected path is reachable across each trust boundary and which service account or host privilege it inherits.
  • Review configuration for optional execution features, unsafe compatibility modes, and shell invocation.

Remediate safely

  • Replace string-built commands or evaluated code with fixed operations and structured argument APIs that do not invoke a shell.
  • Use strict allowlists for operation identifiers and reject unexpected input before it reaches any interpreter.
  • Update the affected component and add inert regression tests covering metacharacters, encoding variants, and alternate request paths.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

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