CVE-2026-5083
Predictable Session ID Vulnerability in Ado::Sessions Perl Module
Publication date: 2026-04-08
Last updated on: 2026-04-23
Assigner: CPANSec
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| berov | ado | to 0.935 (inc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-338 | The product uses a Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG) in a security context, but the PRNG's algorithm is not cryptographically strong. |
| CWE-340 | The product uses a scheme that generates numbers or identifiers that are more predictable than required. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability affects Ado::Sessions versions through 0.935 for Perl, where the session IDs generated are insecure.
The session ID is created using a SHA-1 hash seeded with the built-in rand function, the epoch time, and the process ID (PID). However, the built-in rand function is not suitable for cryptographic purposes.
Because the PID comes from a small set of numbers and the epoch time can be guessed or leaked (for example, from the HTTP Date header), the resulting session IDs are predictable.
Predictable session IDs could allow an attacker to guess or reproduce valid session identifiers, potentially gaining unauthorized access to systems.
Additionally, the Ado project is no longer maintained and has been removed from the CPAN index, although it remains available on BackPAN.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can impact you by allowing attackers to predict session IDs due to their insecure generation method.
If an attacker can guess or reproduce valid session IDs, they may gain unauthorized access to user sessions or systems that rely on these session identifiers for authentication or state management.
Such unauthorized access could lead to data breaches, privilege escalation, or other security compromises depending on the application using Ado::Sessions.
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
This vulnerability involves insecure session IDs generated by Ado::Sessions versions through 0.935 for Perl. Detection would involve identifying usage of Ado::Sessions in your environment and analyzing session ID generation patterns.
Since the session IDs are generated from a SHA-1 hash seeded with the built-in rand function, epoch time, and PID, which are predictable, you can detect this vulnerability by checking if session IDs are predictable or weak.
Commands to detect this might include:
- Searching for Ado::Sessions usage in your Perl applications, e.g., using grep: `grep -r "Ado::Sessions" /path/to/your/code`
- Capturing session IDs from HTTP traffic and analyzing their entropy or predictability using scripting or tools like Wireshark or tcpdump.
- Checking HTTP headers for the Date header to see if epoch time might be leaked, which aids in predicting session IDs.
No specific detection commands are provided in the resources.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
Immediate mitigation steps include discontinuing the use of Ado::Sessions versions through 0.935, as they generate insecure and predictable session IDs.
Since Ado is no longer maintained and has been removed from the CPAN index, it is recommended to migrate to a maintained session management module that uses cryptographically secure random number generators for session ID generation.
Additionally, avoid relying on the built-in rand function for cryptographic purposes and ensure that session IDs are generated using secure, unpredictable sources of entropy.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
The vulnerability in Ado::Sessions versions through 0.935 for Perl involves the generation of insecure and predictable session IDs. This weakness could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to systems by guessing or predicting session identifiers.
Such unauthorized access risks compromising sensitive personal or health information, which could lead to violations of data protection regulations and standards such as GDPR and HIPAA. These regulations require adequate protection of session management to prevent unauthorized access and ensure confidentiality and integrity of data.
Therefore, using this vulnerable version of Ado::Sessions may negatively impact compliance with these common standards and regulations due to the increased risk of session hijacking and data breaches.