# CVE-2026-13051: Form::Processor::Field::HtmlArea versions from 0.06 through 1.162360 for Perl allow attacker selected method dispatch and resource exhaustio

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted HTML input in Perl's Form::Processor::Field::HtmlArea library due to unsafe template compilation.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 14 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fhx5-grqf-hx29

## What is CVE-2026-13051?

CVE-2026-13051 is a critical code injection vulnerability, published on 13 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Form::Processor::Field::HtmlArea versions from 0.06 through 1.162360 for Perl allow attacker selected method dispatch and resource exhaustion via an HTML::Tidy diagnostic that validate passes to add_error as a Locale::Maketext template.

validate runs HTML::Tidy over the submitted markup and passes each resulting message to add_error as its first argument, which add_error hands to the language handle as the Locale::Maketext message key. The default handle's lexicon sets `_AUTO`, so a message that is not a lexicon entry is compiled as a bracket notation template instead of being looked up. Tidy diagnostics quote the offending attribute name or value, so a bracket group in the submitted markup reaches the template position, where the first token of the group names a method called on the language handle and the remaining tokens are its arguments. A group such as `[0]` makes the compile croak, and neither the field nor the handle catches it, so the exception leaves validate. `[sprintf,%2000000000d,7]` reaches CORE::sprintf with an attacker chosen field width.

One submission of crafted markup to an HtmlArea field throws an unhandled exception out of form validation or allocates an arbitrary amount of memory, and an application whose language handle subclass defines side effecting public methods makes those callable with attacker chosen arguments. The other field types pass fixed templates with the submitted value in an argument slot, where it stays inert, and are unaffected.

Weakness: CWE-470 (Use of Externally-Controlled Input to Select Classes or Code), CWE-1336 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in a Template Engine)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-13051?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-13051?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-13051 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-13051 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-13051 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-13051 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-13051 is a critical code injection vulnerability, published on 13 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-13051 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-13051/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-13051/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-13051
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-13051
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-13051

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-13051/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.