CVE-2018-14351 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A problem has been found in Mutt versions older than 1.10.1 and NeoMutt versions older than 2018-07-16. There is a mishandling of a lengthy IMAP status mailbox literal count size in the imap/command.c file.

Understanding CVE-2018-14351

This CVE describes a vulnerability in Mutt and NeoMutt versions that could be exploited due to mishandling of IMAP status mailbox literal count size.

What is CVE-2018-14351?

CVE-2018-14351 is a vulnerability found in Mutt versions older than 1.10.1 and NeoMutt versions older than 2018-07-16. The issue arises from the mishandling of a lengthy IMAP status mailbox literal count size in the imap/command.c file.

The Impact of CVE-2018-14351

The mishandling of the IMAP status mailbox literal count size could potentially lead to security breaches, unauthorized access, or denial of service attacks on systems running the affected versions of Mutt and NeoMutt.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14351

This section provides more in-depth technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Mutt and NeoMutt versions arises from the improper handling of a lengthy IMAP status mailbox literal count size in the imap/command.c file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Mutt versions older than 1.10.1
NeoMutt versions older than 2018-07-16

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating the IMAP status mailbox literal count size, potentially leading to security compromises.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Mutt and NeoMutt to versions 1.10.1 and 2018-07-16, respectively, or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual activities on the systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to the latest versions to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network security measures to detect and block suspicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and patches released by Mutt and NeoMutt to address vulnerabilities.