use warnings;
use strict;

my ($outer_hr_aref, $inner_hr_aref);

foreach my $outer_href (@$outer_hr_aref) {
	foreach my $inner_href (@$inner_hr_aref) {
		if (($$outer_href{key1} eq $$inner_href{key2}) & ($$outer_href{key3} == $$inner_href{key4})) { #abitrary key assignment could be other combinations
			print "status found: $$inner_href matching $outer_href\n";
			$$outer_href{key1} = 'something_new'; #arbitrary, other function calls can occur
			#somehow now remove the $inner_href item from the @$inner_hr_aref so i don't have to search the entire aref again.   
			last;
		}
	}
}