CVE-2026-113868: Uninitialized memory disclosure and out-of-bounds read in POP3 and SMTP NTLM authentication
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 21/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.42% (FIRST EPSS).
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.
- Fixed version: thunderbird (Debian:12) 1:153.5.1esr-1~deb12u1; thunderbird (Debian:13) 1:153.5.1esr-1~deb13u1.
Low priority for now. Upgrade to thunderbird (Debian:12) 1:153.5.1esr-1~deb12u1; thunderbird (Debian:13) 1:153.5.1esr-1~deb13u1 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
When authenticating to a POP3 or SMTP server using NTLM, Thunderbird did not check whether the server's challenge was valid base64. A malicious server could send a challenge that caused Thunderbird to include uninitialized heap memory in its NTLM response, disclosing that memory to the server. A challenge consisting only of base64 padding also caused an out-of-bounds read, crashing Thunderbird. This affected accounts configured to use NTLM or GSSAPI authentication. The uninitialized memory disclosure only affected NTLM. This vulnerability was fixed in Thunderbird 158.0.1 and Thunderbird 153.5.1.
- Published
- Oct 20, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 22, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.4% · 37th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-125
Report tools
Action score
21
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 21 / 40 · 5.3 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.4%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- No public exploit code on record
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Is your version affected? Check itNoroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
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Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (mozilla). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Mozilla Thunderbird
- 153.5.1 and later · up to and including 153.*not affected · rpm
- 158.0.1 and laternot affected · rpm
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | thunderbird | before 1:153.5.1esr-1~deb12u1 | 1:153.5.1esr-1~deb12u1 |
| Debian:13 | thunderbird | before 1:153.5.1esr-1~deb13u1 | 1:153.5.1esr-1~deb13u1 |
| Debian:14 | thunderbird | from 0 | — |
Same product
mozilla: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2019-11705A flaw in Thunderbird's implementation of iCal causes a stack buffer overflow in icalrecur_add_bydayrules when processing certain email…42Plan
- CVE-2019-11704A flaw in Thunderbird's implementation of iCal causes a heap buffer overflow in icalmemory_strdup_and_dequote when processing certain email…42Plan
- CVE-2019-11703A flaw in Thunderbird's implementation of iCal causes a heap buffer overflow in parser_get_next_char when processing certain email…42Plan
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2026-113866Oct 20, 2026 · Account password sent unencrypted during Exchange account setup23Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2026-113867Oct 20, 2026 · Stanza injection in XMPP chat36Monitor
- Later →CVE-2026-113869Oct 20, 2026 · Use-after-free in S/MIME decryption during a security device password prompt21Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:thunderbird | 1:153.5.1esr-1~deb12u1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:thunderbird | 1:153.5.1esr-1~deb13u1 · Debian:13 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Published
- Fix recorded+5 d
- TodayNov 13, 2026+24 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
- CVE-2026-9224035 days apartOut-of-bounds read in IMAP response parser36Monitor
- CVE-2026-9223935 days apartBuffer overrun in IMAP32Monitor
Not on record for this CVE: patch commit or PR link · public bounty program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- High
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-125 · Out-of-bounds ReadCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
nvd-secondary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
ATT&CK techniques
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Change log (2)
- Fix✗ → ✓
- Exploit maturity— → none
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (2 more)Show less
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.