If you're not pathologically adverse to a non-CPAN solution:

#! perl -sl
use strict;
use Data::Dump qw[ pp ];

sub parseConfig {
    my( $source, %config ) = shift;

    $source =~ s<(\S+)\s*(\{)\s*(.+)\}|(\S+)(\s+)([^;]+);>
    <
        my( $key, $f, $rest ) = ( $1 || $4, $2 || $5, $3 || $6 );

        $config{ $key } = $f eq "{" ? parseConfig( $rest ) : $rest;
    >seg;
    return \%config;
}

my $config = parseConfig( do{ local $/; <DATA> } );
pp $config;

__DATA__
## data per your OP

[download]

Produces:

C:\test>junk70
{
  bob => {
           ed => {
                   larry => {
                         rule5 => {
                               action               => "allow",
                               application          => "<a href=\"?nod
+e=%20any%20\"> any </a>",
                               category             => "<a href=\"?nod
+e=%20any%20\"> any </a>",
                               destination          => "<a href=\"?nod
+e=%20any%20\"> any </a>",
                               from                 => "<a href=\"?nod
+e=%20prod-L3%20\"> prod-L3 </a>",
                               "hip-profiles"       => "<a href=\"?nod
+e=%20any%20\"> any </a>",
                               "log-end"            => "yes",
                               "log-setting"        => "orion_log",
                               "log-start"          => "no",
                               "negate-destination" => "no",
                               "negate-source"      => "no",
                               option               => { "disable-serv
+er-response-inspection" => "no" },
                               service              => "<a href=\"?nod
+e=%20any%20\"> any </a>",
                               source               => "<a href=\"?nod
+e=%20any%20\"> any </a>",
                               "source-user"        => "<a href=\"?nod
+e=%20any%20\"> any </a>",
                               tag                  => "<a href=\"?nod
+e=%20some_tag%20\"> some_tag </a>",
                               to                   => "<a href=\"?nod
+e=%20corp-L3%20\"> corp-L3 </a>",
                             },
                       },
                 },
         },
}

[download]
With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

In reply to Re: Parsing a config file with braces and nested braces by BrowserUk
in thread Parsing a config file with braces and nested braces by IamtheGorf

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