Consult the DBD::mysql POD (via "perldoc DBD::mysql"). It tells of an easier way. After an insert,

  $dbh->{mysql_insertid}
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holds the most recently assigned id. Your code might then be rewritten as

  my $id = $dbh->{mysql_insertid};
  $sth = $dbh->prepare(<<"SQL");
UPDATE history
SET history_conf = ?
WHERE history_id = ?
SQL
  $sth->execute($id, $id);
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