Mutt: Buffer overflow

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200606-27 / mutt
Release Date	June 28, 2006
Latest Revision	June 28, 2006: 01
Impact	normal
Exploitable	remote

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
mail-client/mutt	< 1.5.11-r2	>= 1.5.11-r2	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #138125

Synopsis

Mutt contains a buffer overflow that could result in arbitrary code execution.

2. Impact Information

Background

Mutt is a small but very powerful text-based mail client.

Description

TAKAHASHI Tamotsu has discovered that Mutt contains a boundary error in the "browse_get_namespace()" function in browse.c, which can be triggered when receiving an overly long namespace from an IMAP server.

Impact

A malicious IMAP server can send an overly long namespace to Mutt in order to crash the application, and possibly execute arbitrary code with the permissions of the user running Mutt.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All Mutt users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=mail-client/mutt-1.5.11-r2"

4. References

CVE-2006-3242

Updated June 28, 2006

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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