Buffer overflow in Mutt 1.4.0 and possibly earlier versions, 1.5.x up to 1.5.3, and other…
Priority MEDIUM 40Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Partial · Partial · Partial
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
Buffer overflow in Mutt 1.4.0 and possibly earlier versions, 1.5.x up to 1.5.3, and other programs that use Mutt code such as Balsa before 2.0.10, allows a remote malicious IMAP server to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted folder.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.04494 91st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 2 advisories
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.3.12 | Vulnerable | mutt |
| cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.3.16 | Vulnerable | mutt |
| cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.3.17 | Vulnerable | mutt |
| cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.3.22 | Vulnerable | mutt |
| cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.3.24 | Vulnerable | mutt |
| cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.3.25 | Vulnerable | mutt |
| cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.27:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.3.27 | Vulnerable | mutt |
| cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.4.0 | Vulnerable | mutt |
| cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.5.3 | Vulnerable | mutt |
- cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.3.12 Vulnerable ·mutt
- cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.3.16 Vulnerable ·mutt
- cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.3.17 Vulnerable ·mutt
- cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.3.22 Vulnerable ·mutt
- cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.3.24 Vulnerable ·mutt
- cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.3.25 Vulnerable ·mutt
- cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.3.27:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.3.27 Vulnerable ·mutt
- cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.4.0 Vulnerable ·mutt
- cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:1.5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.5.3 Vulnerable ·mutt
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2003:111 Released 2003-05-22 · Red Hat rating Importantbalsa security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1
- Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1
- RHSA-2003:109 Released 2003-04-03 · Red Hat rating Important: Updated balsa and mutt packages fix vulnerabilities
- Red Hat Linux 7.2
- Red Hat Linux 7.3
- Red Hat Linux 8.0
- Red Hat Linux 9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:111 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:111 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:111 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:109 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.3 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:109 |
| Red Hat Linux 8.0 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:109 |
| Red Hat Linux 9 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:109 |
| Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:111 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2003-0140
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qj3j-m7h3-hrhc
References
Other 7
- 20030430 GLSA: balsa (200304-10)
- 20030320 [OpenPKG-SA-2003.025] OpenPKG Security Advisory (mutt)
- 20030322 GLSA: mutt (200303-19)
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:2
- 20030320 CORE-20030304-02: Vulnerability in Mutt Mail User Agent
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:434
- http://www.coresecurity.com/common/showdoc.php?idx=310&idxseccion=10
More Mutt vulnerabilities
- TI-2018-10297 An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-10300 An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-10293 An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-10302 An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-10301 An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-10295 An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2003-0140 · CVE Program
- CVE-2003-0140 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qj3j-m7h3-hrhc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2003-0140 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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