CVE-2012-6329
HighPublic exploitThe _compile function in Maketext.pm in the Locale::Maketext implementation in Perl before 5.17.7 does not properly handle backslashes and fully qualified method names during compilation of bracket notation, which allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary commands…
Published Jan 4, 2013 · Updated Aug 4, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2012-6329
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2012-6329 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.5 v2) affecting Perl, rootio-perl, perl-Archive-Extract (amazon) and 22 more products.
- It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 64% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Perl 4:5.10.1-130.17.amzn1, Perl 4:5.10.1-130.el6_4, Perl 4:5.8.8-40.el5_9.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.
CVSS v2
7.5
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
64%
Higher than 99.2% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
No known
Not in a known-exploited catalog
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2012-6329 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
Description
The _compile function in Maketext.pm in the Locale::Maketext implementation in Perl before 5.17.7 does not properly handle backslashes and fully qualified method names during compilation of bracket notation, which allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary commands via crafted input to an application that accepts translation strings from users, as demonstrated by the TWiki application before 5.1.3, and the Foswiki application 1.0.x through 1.0.10 and 1.1.x through 1.1.6.
Affected Products
161 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| PerlPerl | 5.10, 5.10.0, 5.10.0-rc1, 5.10.0-rc2, 5.10.1, 5.10.1-rc1, 5.10.1-rc2, 5.11.0 | 5.16.2 |
| rootio-perlrootio | See advisory | 5.14.2-16 |
| perl-Archive-Extractamazon | See advisory | 1:0.38-130.17.amzn1 |
| perl-Archive-Taramazon | See advisory | 1.58-130.17.amzn1 |
| perl-CGIamazon | See advisory | 3.51-130.17.amzn1 |
Patched Releases
Perl
4:5.10.1-130.17.amzn1, 4:5.10.1-130.el6_4, 4:5.8.8-40.el5_9, 5.14.2-16, 5.16.2
perl-Archive-Extract
1:0.38-130.17.amzn1, 1:0.38-130.el6_4
perl-Archive-Tar
1.58-130.17.amzn1, 1.58-130.el6_4
perl-CGI
3.51-130.17.amzn1, 3.51-130.el6_4
perl-Compress-Raw-Bzip2
2.020-130.17.amzn1, 2.020-130.el6_4
perl-Compress-Raw-Zlib
1:2.020-130.el6_4, 2.023-130.17.amzn1
perl-Compress-Zlib
2.020-130.17.amzn1, 2.020-130.el6_4
perl-core
5.10.1-130.17.amzn1, 5.10.1-130.el6_4
perl-CPAN
1.9402-130.17.amzn1, 1.9402-130.el6_4
perl-CPANPLUS
0.88-130.17.amzn1, 0.88-130.el6_4
perl-devel
4:5.10.1-130.17.amzn1, 4:5.10.1-130.el6_4
perl-Digest-SHA
1:5.47-130.17.amzn1, 1:5.47-130.el6_4
perl-ExtUtils-CBuilder
1:0.27-130.17.amzn1, 1:0.27-130.el6_4
perl-ExtUtils-Embed
1.28-130.17.amzn1, 1.28-130.el6_4
perl-ExtUtils-MakeMaker
6.55-130.17.amzn1, 6.55-130.el6_4
perl-ExtUtils-ParseXS
1:2.2003.0-130.17.amzn1, 1:2.2003.0-130.el6_4
perl-File-Fetch
0.26-130.17.amzn1, 0.26-130.el6_4
perl-IO-Compress-Base
2.020-130.17.amzn1, 2.020-130.el6_4
perl-IO-Compress-Bzip2
2.020-130.17.amzn1, 2.020-130.el6_4
perl-IO-Compress-Zlib
2.020-130.17.amzn1, 2.020-130.el6_4
perl-IO-Zlib
1:1.09-130.17.amzn1, 1:1.09-130.el6_4
perl-IPC-Cmd
1:0.56-130.17.amzn1, 1:0.56-130.el6_4
perl-libs
4:5.10.1-130.17.amzn1, 4:5.10.1-130.el6_4
perl-Locale-Maketext-Simple
1:0.18-130.17.amzn1, 1:0.18-130.el6_4
perl-Log-Message
1:0.02-130.17.amzn1, 1:0.02-130.el6_4
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Jan 4, 2013
Last updated
Aug 4, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
References
- advisoryRHSA-2013:0685
- advisoryRHSA-2026:6206
- advisoryhttps://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2012-6329
- patchhttp://perl5.git.perl.org/perl.git/commit/1735f6f53ca19f99c6e9e39496c486af323ba6a8
- exploitMSF foswiki_maketext.rb
FAQ
Common Questions.
The _compile function in Maketext.pm in the Locale::Maketext implementation in Perl before 5.17.7 does not properly handle backslashes and fully qualified method names during compilation of bracket notation, which allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary commands via crafted input to an application that…
Affected: Perl versions 5.10, 5.10.0, 5.10.0-rc1, 5.10.0-rc2, 5.10.1, 5.10.1-rc1, 5.10.1-rc2, 5.11.0; rootio-perl; perl-Archive-Extract (amazon), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including Perl 4:5.10.1-130.17.amzn1, Perl 4:5.10.1-130.el6_4, Perl 4:5.8.8-40.el5_9.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.
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