Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-4874 can make the Mutt email client crash when a user views a specially crafted email. The documented impact is limited to availability, not data theft or remote code execution. It still matters for users who rely on terminal email workflows, because a crafted message could interrupt email access.
Executive priority
Treat as a routine but timely availability fix. It is not currently supported by sources as exploited in the wild or data-compromising, but vulnerable users could lose access to email sessions after viewing a malicious message.
Technical view
The issue is a null pointer dereference/undefined behavior condition in Mutt when processing a crafted email. The CVE describes affected versions as greater than 1.5.2 and less than 2.2.12. CVSS 3.1 is 4.3, with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and required user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux/Unix systems where users actively read mail with Mutt versions in the affected range. Servers are not exposed merely by hosting mail unless users open messages with vulnerable Mutt clients.
Exploitation context
An attacker would need to deliver a specially crafted email and have the recipient view it in vulnerable Mutt. Sources do not indicate active exploitation, public weaponization, confidentiality impact, or integrity impact. The expected result is a client crash or disruption.
Researcher notes
The public record maps this to CWE-475 and null pointer dereference behavior. GitLab patch references and Debian advisories are available. Evidence in the provided sources supports denial-of-service impact only; do not assume broader compromise without additional proof.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Mutt to 2.2.12 or later where available.
- Apply Debian security updates referenced in DSA-5494 or LTS advisory if using Debian packages.
- If upgrade timing is unclear, check current vendor or distribution guidance.
- Prioritize systems where Mutt is used for operational or privileged email workflows.
Validation and detection
- Inventory systems with Mutt installed.
- Confirm Mutt versions against the affected range: greater than 1.5.2 and less than 2.2.12.
- Check package manager history for Debian DSA-5494 or LTS updates.
- Review user reports for repeated Mutt crashes when opening specific emails.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-475: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-4874 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L2.81.4GitLabVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://gitlab.com/muttmua/mutt/-/commit/452ee330e094bfc7c9a68555e5152b1826534555.patchCVE reference, GitLab
- https://gitlab.com/muttmua/mutt/-/commit/a4752eb0ae0a521eec02e59e51ae5daedf74fda0.patchCVE reference, GitLab
- https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5494CVE reference, CVE · x_transferred
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/09/msg00021.htmlCVE reference, CVE · x_transferred
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Undefined Behavior for Input to API
Undefined Behavior for Input to API represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.