Disappearing message notification / message app freeze

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/33588339

I received a text notification from an unknown number earlier today. I'm usually suspicious of such things, but clicked the notification. The messages app loaded, but displayed a blank white screen until I closed the app. After doing so, there was no evidence of the message notification or the message itself, in any of the message categories (known, unknown, all, deleted messages, etc).

This is on an iPhone 14 Pro Max using a fully up to date device running iOS 18.3.1 .

Has anyone else experienced this? I am hoping that the group might be able to offer insight into whether this is a bug worth reporting to Apple, or an attack of some sort? I am aware that at least one zero-click messaging bug was recently patched in iOS. I rebooted my device, and I'm waiting for the security delay to expire so I can reset my iCloud password. I have 2FA and stolen device protection switched on.

(please disregard link to example.com ; my Lemmy client wouldn't allow a text-only post without an image or a link).