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TI-2020-17431 Aliases CVE-2020-28896GHSA-346p-qx4x-g348

Mutt before 2.0.2 and NeoMutt before 2020-11-20 did not ensure that $ssl_force_tls was…

Priority LOW 29CWE-287Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · None · None
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 1 fixed, 3 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-287.

Summary

Mutt before 2.0.2 and NeoMutt before 2020-11-20 did not ensure that $ssl_force_tls was processed if an IMAP server's initial server response was invalid. The connection was not properly closed, and the code could continue attempting to authenticate. This could result in authentication credentials being exposed on an unencrypted connection, or to a machine-in-the-middle.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.02351 83rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 1 fixed, 3 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 2.0.2Vulnerablemutt
cpe:2.3:a:neomutt:neomutt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 2020-11-20VulnerableNeomutt
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*9.0VulnerableDebian
  • cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.0.2 Vulnerable ·mutt
  • cpe:2.3:a:neomutt:neomutt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2020-11-20 Vulnerable ·Neomutt
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian

Remediation

Red Hat 1 advisory

  • RHSA-2021:4181 Released 2021-11-09 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    mutt security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) mutt-5:2.0.7-1.el8

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2021:4181
Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-28896
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-346p-qx4x-g348

References

Patch 3

Advisory 3

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences