CVE-2002-0001 in Mutt
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in RFC822 address parser in mutt before 1.2.5.1 and mutt 1.3.x before 1.3.25 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via an improperly terminated comment or phrase in the address list.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0001 represents a critical command injection flaw within the RFC822 address parser implementation of the mutt email client software. This security issue affects mutt versions prior to 1.2.5.1 and 1.3.25, where the address parser fails to properly handle malformed comments or phrases in email address lists. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of email address components, specifically when processing structured address data that follows the RFC822 standard for email address formatting. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-78 as a command injection weakness, where untrusted data is directly incorporated into command execution contexts without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious email message containing an improperly terminated comment or phrase within the address list portion of the email header. When mutt processes such malformed address data, the parser's failure to properly terminate or escape comment sections allows attacker-controlled data to be interpreted as executable commands rather than simple address components. This parsing error creates a path where arbitrary commands can be executed on the target system with the privileges of the user running the mutt client. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered simply by receiving an email message, making it a passive attack vector that does not require user interaction beyond opening the email.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise when the affected mutt client processes maliciously crafted emails. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data, establishing persistent backdoors, or using the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects any system running affected versions of mutt, making it particularly concerning for email servers, desktop email clients, and any environment where mutt is used to process incoming email messages. This represents a significant risk in enterprise environments where email is a primary communication channel and where users may inadvertently receive malicious emails containing crafted address data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected mutt installations to versions 1.2.5.1 or 1.3.25 and later, which contain the necessary fixes for proper address parsing and input validation. System administrators should also implement email filtering measures to detect and block emails containing suspicious address formatting patterns, particularly those with nested or improperly terminated comments. The fix addresses the core parsing issue by implementing stricter validation of RFC822 address components and ensuring proper escaping of special characters within address comments and phrases. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing email security solutions that can identify and neutralize potentially malicious email content before it reaches end-user mail clients, thereby reducing the attack surface for such vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in email processing systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in email clients.