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CVE-2007-5116: Buffer overflow in the polymorphic opcode support in the Regular Expression Engine (regcomp.c) in Perl 5.8 all

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HIGH 7.5WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2007-5116 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting perl, mandrake multi network firewall, openpkg. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in the polymorphic opcode support in the Regular Expression Engine (regcomp.c) in Perl 5.8 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code by switching from byte to Unicode (UTF) characters in a regular expression.

Why this priority

  • High severity
  • EPSS top 8%: very likely to be exploited
  • On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score7.5 (High)
EPSS exploit chance4.8% (top 8%)
CISA exploited listNo
WeaknessCWE-119
Published2007-11-07
Last modified2026-06-16
Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: larry wall · mandrakesoft · openpkg · redhat

Share: LinkedIn · X · Reddit

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

larry wall perl DOWNGRADE
Affected: 5.8.0 · 5.8.1 · 5.8.3 · 5.8.4 · 5.8.4.1 · 5.8.4.2 · 5.8.4.2.3 · 5.8.4.3
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.8.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy perl || rpm -q perl || perl --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5.8.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison perl sudo apt install perl=<VERSION_BEFORE_5.8.0> sudo apt-mark hold perl
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list perl sudo dnf downgrade perl-<VERSION_BEFORE_5.8.0> sudo dnf versionlock add perl
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
mandrakesoft mandrake multi network firewall DOWNGRADE
Affected: 2.0
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy mandrake-multi-network-firewall || rpm -q mandrake-multi-network-firewall || mandrake-multi-network-firewall --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison mandrake-multi-network-firewall sudo apt install mandrake-multi-network-firewall=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo apt-mark hold mandrake-multi-network-firewall
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list mandrake-multi-network-firewall sudo dnf downgrade mandrake-multi-network-firewall-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo dnf versionlock add mandrake-multi-network-firewall
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
openpkg openpkg DOWNGRADE
Affected: current
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before current
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy openpkg || rpm -q openpkg || openpkg --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before current (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison openpkg sudo apt install openpkg=<VERSION_BEFORE_current> sudo apt-mark hold openpkg
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list openpkg sudo dnf downgrade openpkg-<VERSION_BEFORE_current> sudo dnf versionlock add openpkg
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
redhat enterprise linux MITIGATE
Affected: 1.0
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.0
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2007-5116?

perl: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; mandrake multi network firewall: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; openpkg: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2007-5116 being exploited?

CVE-2007-5116 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2007-5116 affect?

CVE-2007-5116 affects perl, mandrake multi network firewall, openpkg. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). Buffer overflow in the polymorphic opcode support in the Regular Expression Engine (regcomp.c) in Perl 5.8 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code by switching from byte to Unicode (UTF) characters in a regular expressi

How urgent is CVE-2007-5116?

Priority 54/100. High severity; EPSS top 8%: very likely to be exploited; On your watchlist

Software pages

Perl vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

References

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