Net::BitTorrent versions through 2.1.0 for Perl allow remote memory exhaustion via deeply nested bencoded input
Net::BitTorrent versions through 2.1.0 for Perl allow remote memory exhaustion via deeply nested bencoded input. bdecode recurses once per nested list or dictionary level with no depth cap, and each recursive call receives the remaining buffer by value while the list and dictionary branches capture the whole remainder, so every live recursion frame keeps its own copy of the shrinking buffer (O(N^2) bytes for an N-deep input). The decoder runs on every untrusted bencode source: .torrent files, BEP09 metadata fetched from peers, DHT messages, and tracker responses. A bencoded input of roughly 150,000 nested lists (about 150 KB on the wire) drives multi-gigabyte peak memory, so one short message from any peer, or one crafted .torrent file or magnet link, terminates the client.
- Products
- Not specified
- Affected versions
- Not specified
- Fixed versions
- Not specified
- CVEs
- CVE-2026-57081
- Confirmed fixed CVEs
- Not specified
- Updated in this feed
- 8 Nov 2026, 02:39 UTC · Revision 1
Source evidence
Net::BitTorrent versions through 2.1.0 for Perl allow remote memory exhaustion via deeply nested bencoded input
core-osv · Original sourcePublished 30 Jun 2026, 11:05 UTC
Net::BitTorrent versions through 2.1.0 for Perl allow remote memory exhaustion via deeply nested bencoded input. bdecode recurses once per nested list or dictionary level with no depth cap, and each recursive call receives the remaining buffer by value while the list and dictionary branches capture the whole remainder, so every live recursion frame keeps its own copy of the shrinking buffer (O(N^2) bytes for an N-deep input). The decoder runs on every untrusted bencode source: .torrent files, BEP09 metadata fetched from peers, DHT messages, and tracker responses. A bencoded input of roughly 150,000 nested lists (about 150 KB on the wire) drives multi-gigabyte peak memory, so one short message from any peer, or one crafted .torrent file or magnet link, terminates the client.
osv:CVE-2026-57081
Complete source record
{
"id": "9ce95027fdee4de1501b2367a0a887c5c659f6a38f5ed065f514c5cc1025d3a9",
"url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-57081",
"method": "structured",
"payload": {
"kind": "advisory",
"title": "Net::BitTorrent versions through 2.1.0 for Perl allow remote memory exhaustion via deeply nested bencoded input",
"summary": "Net::BitTorrent versions through 2.1.0 for Perl allow remote memory exhaustion via deeply nested bencoded input. bdecode recurses once per nested list or dictionary level with no depth cap, and each recursive call receives the remaining buffer by value while the list and dictionary branches capture the whole remainder, so every live recursion frame keeps its own copy of the shrinking buffer (O(N^2) bytes for an N-deep input). The decoder runs on every untrusted bencode source: .torrent files, BEP09 metadata fetched from peers, DHT messages, and tracker responses. A bencoded input of roughly 150,000 nested lists (about 150 KB on the wire) drives multi-gigabyte peak memory, so one short message from any peer, or one crafted .torrent file or magnet link, terminates the client.",
"evidence": "osv:CVE-2026-57081",
"products": [],
"severity": "high",
"structured": {
"id": "CVE-2026-57081",
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-57081",
"GHSA-mv44-v82p-89xv"
],
"metrics": [
{
"type": "CVSS_V3",
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
}
],
"affected": [
{
"ranges": [
{
"repo": "https://github.com/sanko/net-bittorrent.pm",
"type": "GIT",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"last_affected": "8f5bed2edcf6e4ca81ea73817d0e3aa293fb10a2"
}
],
"database_specific": {
"extracted_events": [
{
"range": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"last_affected": "2.1.0"
}
],
"source": "AFFECTED_FIELD",
"strategy": "StandardRange"
},
{
"range": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"last_affected": "2.1.0"
}
],
"source": "DESCRIPTION"
}
]
}
}
],
"versions": [
"v2.1.0",
"v2.0.1",
"v2.0.0"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/osv-output/CVE-2026-57081.json"
}
}
],
"modified": "2026-10-28T02:30:52.958949509Z",
"provider": "osv",
"references": [
"https://cpan.org/modules",
"https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/57xxx/CVE-2026-57081.json",
"https://github.com/sanko/Net-BitTorrent.pm/security/advisories/GHSA-mv44-v82p-89xv",
"https://metacpan.org/release/SANKO/Net-BitTorrent-v2.1.0/changes",
"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-57081",
"https://github.com/sanko/Net-BitTorrent.pm"
],
"provider_metadata": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-400",
"CWE-674"
],
"cna_assigner": "CPANSec",
"osv_generated_from": "https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/57xxx/CVE-2026-57081.json"
}
},
"related_cves": [
{
"value": "CVE-2026-57081",
"evidence": "/id"
}
],
"security_relevant": true,
"severity_evidence": "/severity/0/score"
},
"source_id": "core-osv",
"document_id": 521869,
"published_at": "2026-06-30T11:05:14.658+00:00"
}