# CVE-2026-6656: Crypt::Password versions through 0.28 for Perl are susceptible to timing attacks

> Attackers can exploit timing differences in password checks to guess password hashes, requiring an upgrade to the Perl Crypt::Password library.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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:** 20 Jul 2026
- **Updated:** 20 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2026-6656, GHSA-c9g9-v2j9-8ffv, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-6656

## What is CVE-2026-6656?

CVE-2026-6656 is a high-severity vulnerability in DRSTEVE Crypt::Password, published on 20 Jul 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Crypt::Password versions through 0.28 for Perl are susceptible to timing attacks.

The check_password method uses the built-in eq operator. This allows discrepancies in timing to be used to guess the underlying hash.

Weakness: CWE-208 (Observable Timing Discrepancy)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-6656?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-6656?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-6656 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-6656 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-6656 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-6656 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-6656 is a high-severity vulnerability in DRSTEVE Crypt::Password, published on 20 Jul 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-2026-6656 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: DRSTEVE Crypt::Password. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2026-6656/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-6656/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-6656
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6656
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-6656

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-6656/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.