Arbitrary Code Execution in Perl Module::Load

Executive Summary

The vulnerability exists in Module::Load versions before 0.22 for Perl, where module names starting with "::" can be passed to the load function to specify arbitrary module paths outside of the standard @INC directories.

This flaw allows attackers who can influence the module names passed to the load function to execute arbitrary code by loading modules from unintended locations.

The root cause is Perl's design where the require function conflates loading modules and files, making it difficult to securely load modules from variables without risk of arbitrary code execution.

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Impact Analysis

If an attacker can control the module names passed to the load function, they can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.

This could lead to unauthorized actions such as data theft, system compromise, or further exploitation depending on the privileges of the Perl process.

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Mitigation Strategies

To mitigate this vulnerability in Module::Load versions before 0.22, avoid using the load function with module names starting with "::" as it allows loading arbitrary module paths and can lead to arbitrary code execution.

A recommended approach is to avoid relying on insecure module loading methods and instead use safer alternatives. According to the discussion in Resource 1, the best long-term fix is to use Perl's newer operations such as require_module for securely loading modules from @INC, which eliminates the ambiguity and security risks present in the older load or require functions.

Until such fixes are applied, review and sanitize any input that influences module names passed to load functions to prevent attackers from specifying arbitrary module paths.

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Compliance Impact

The provided information does not specify how the vulnerability in Module::Load affects compliance with common standards and regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA.

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