CVE-2018-14357

CVE-2018-14357 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Mutt with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-78.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
• CVSS v2: 7.5
• EPSS exploit prediction: 5% (91st percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-78
• Affected product: Mutt
• Published: 2018-07-17
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. They allow remote IMAP servers to execute arbitrary commands via backquote characters, related to the mailboxes command associated with an automatic subscription.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2018-14357?

An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. They allow remote IMAP servers to execute arbitrary commands via backquote characters, related to the mailboxes command associated with an automatic subscription.

How severe is CVE-2018-14357?

CVE-2018-14357 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2018-14357 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (91st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2018-14357?

CVE-2018-14357 primarily affects Mutt. In total, 20 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2018-14357?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2018-14357 published?

CVE-2018-14357 was published on 2018-07-17 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• http://www.mutt.org/news.html
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2526
• https://github.com/neomutt/neomutt/commit/e52393740334443ae0206cab2d7caef381646725
• https://gitlab.com/muttmua/mutt/commit/185152818541f5cdc059cbff3f3e8b654fc27c1d
• https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/08/msg00001.html
• https://neomutt.org/2018/07/16/release
• https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201810-07
• https://usn.ubuntu.com/3719-1/
• https://usn.ubuntu.com/3719-3/
• https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4277

Affected products (20)

• cpe:2.3:a:mutt:mutt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:neomutt:neomutt:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Mutt

• CVE-2018-14362 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. pop.c does not forbid characters that may…
• CVE-2018-14359 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. They have a buffer overflow via base64…
• CVE-2018-14358 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. imap/message.c has a stack-based buffer…
• CVE-2018-14356 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. pop.c mishandles a zero-length UID.
• CVE-2018-14354 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. They allow remote IMAP servers to execute…
• CVE-2018-14353 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in Mutt before 1.10.1 and NeoMutt before 2018-07-16. imap_quote_string in imap/util.c has an…

All CVEs affecting Mutt →

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