CVE-2014-9116: The write_one_header function in mutt 1.5.23 does not properly handle newline characters at the beginning of a

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MEDIUM 5.0WATCHLISTMITIGATEMITIGATEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2014-9116 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting linux enterprise desktop, suse linux enterprise server, mutt. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The write_one_header function in mutt 1.5.23 does not properly handle newline characters at the beginning of a header, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a header with an empty body, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow in the mutt_substrdup function.

Why this priority

EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	9.7% (top 4%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-119
Published	2014-12-02
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: debian · mageia · mutt · suse

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2014-12-02 16:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:17 UTCUpdated Record last modified

suse linux enterprise desktop MITIGATE

Affected: 12

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

suse suse linux enterprise server MITIGATE

Affected: 12

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

mutt mutt DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.5.23

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.5.23

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy mutt || rpm -q mutt || mutt --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.5.23 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison mutt sudo apt install mutt=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.5.23> sudo apt-mark hold mutt

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list mutt sudo dnf downgrade mutt-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.5.23> sudo dnf versionlock add mutt

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

mageia mageia MITIGATE

Affected: 4.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2014-9116?

linux enterprise desktop: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; suse linux enterprise server: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; mutt: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2014-9116 being exploited?

CVE-2014-9116 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2014-9116 affect?

CVE-2014-9116 affects linux enterprise desktop, suse linux enterprise server, mutt. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). The write_one_header function in mutt 1.5.23 does not properly handle newline characters at the beginning of a header, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a header with an empty body, which triggers a heap

How urgent is CVE-2014-9116?

Priority 51/100. EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities

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References

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