Lack of data validation - Type confusion In libcpanel-json-xs-perl

Description

Cpanel::JSON::XS versions before 4.41 for Perl allow type confusion via duplicate object keys when dupkeys_as_arrayref is enabled. decode_hv() collapses duplicate object keys into an array reference under dupkeys_as_arrayref. The branch reached for a duplicate key tests SvTYPE (old_value) != SVt_RV && SvTYPE (SvRV (old_value)) != SVt_PVAV, which evaluates SvRV(old_value) before establishing that old_value is a reference. When the existing value is a plain scalar rather than an array reference, a non-reference scalar is dereferenced as a reference. A caller decoding untrusted JSON with dupkeys_as_arrayref enabled is crashed, and the incompatible access follows a pointer taken from attacker controlled scalar contents.

Mitigation

Update Impact

Minimal update. May introduce new vulnerabilities or breaking changes.

Ecosystem
Package
Affected version
Patched versions