CVE-2023-4874: Null pointer dereference when viewing a specially crafted email in Mutt >1.5.2 <2.2.12

Q: How do I fix CVE-2023-4874?

mutt: upgrade to 2.2.12; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2023-4874 being exploited?

CVE-2023-4874 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2023-4874 affect?

CVE-2023-4874 affects mutt, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.3). Null pointer dereference when viewing a specially crafted email in Mutt >1.5.2 <2.2.12

Q: How urgent is CVE-2023-4874?

Priority 35/100. On your watchlist

Routine

MEDIUM 4.3WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2023-4874 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.3) affecting mutt, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Null pointer dereference when viewing a specially crafted email in Mutt >1.5.2 <2.2.12

Why this priority

On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	4.3 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.8% (top 42%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-475, CWE-476
Published	2023-09-09
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): GitLab Inc. · Vendor: debian · mutt

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-09-09 15:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 06:38 UTCUpdated Record last modified

mutt mutt UPGRADE

Affected: > 1.5.2 and < 2.2.12

Fixed in: 2.2.12

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 2.2.12 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade mutt

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade mutt

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 10.0 · 11.0 · 12.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.0

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-2023-4874?

mutt: upgrade to 2.2.12; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-4874 being exploited?

CVE-2023-4874 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-2023-4874 affect?

CVE-2023-4874 affects mutt, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.3). Null pointer dereference when viewing a specially crafted email in Mutt >1.5.2 <2.2.12

How urgent is CVE-2023-4874?

Priority 35/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

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CVE-2024-49394 MEDIUM 5.3 MITIGATE MITIGATE In mutt and neomutt the In-Reply-To email header field is not protected by cryptographic signing which allows
CVE-2024-49393 MEDIUM 6.5 MITIGATE MITIGATE In neomutt and mutt, the To and Cc email headers are not validated by cryptographic signing which allows an at
CVE-2023-4875 LOW 2.2 UPGRADE MITIGATE Null pointer dereference when composing from a specially crafted draft message in Mutt >1.5.2 <2.2.12
CVE-2022-1328 MEDIUM 4.3 UPGRADE MITIGATE Buffer Overflow in uudecoder in Mutt affecting all versions starting from 0.94.13 before 2.2.3 allows read pas

References

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