Memory corruption in Pidgin
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-119 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
A buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the handling of the MXIT protocol Pidgin. Specially crafted data sent via the server could potentially result in a buffer overflow, potentially resulting in memory corruption. A malicious server or an unfiltered malicious user can send negative length values to trigger this vulnerability.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pidgin | Pidgin | 2.10.11 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Pidgin VendorPidgin Affected 2.10.11 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.10.12 | Vulnerable | Pidgin |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.10.12 Vulnerable ·Pidgin
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Advisory ·
Pidgin — DSA-3620
16 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 6 MEDIUM, 10 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2016-02129 Memory corruption in PidginPriority MEDIUM 43
- TI-2016-02137 Memory corruption in PidginPriority MEDIUM 42
- TI-2016-02135 Out-of-bounds read in PidginPriority MEDIUM 41
- Advisory ·
Pidgin — USN-3031-1
16 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 6 MEDIUM, 10 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2016-02129 Memory corruption in PidginPriority MEDIUM 43
- TI-2016-02137 Memory corruption in PidginPriority MEDIUM 42
- TI-2016-02135 Out-of-bounds read in PidginPriority MEDIUM 41
Show 1 more group
- Advisory ·
Pidgin — GLSA-201701-38
16 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 6 MEDIUM, 10 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2016-02129 Memory corruption in PidginPriority MEDIUM 43
- TI-2016-02137 Memory corruption in PidginPriority MEDIUM 42
- TI-2016-02135 Out-of-bounds read in PidginPriority MEDIUM 41
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-2378
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-crwf-mvg9-fxf3
References
More Pidgin vulnerabilities
- TI-2019-15597 Pidgin 2.13.0 Denial of Service via Malformed Username CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
- TI-2009-02576 The msn_slplink_process_msg function in libpurple/protocols/msn/slplink.c in libpurple… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2013-05439 The SIMPLE protocol functionality in Pidgin before 2.10.8 allows remote attackers to have… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2009-01309 Multiple integer overflows in the msn_slplink_process_msg functions in the MSN protocol… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
- TI-2017-01890 Out-of-bounds write in pidgin CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2011-02815 gtkutils.c in Pidgin before 2.10.0 on Windows allows user-assisted remote attackers to… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
Sources
- CVE-2016-2378 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-2378 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-crwf-mvg9-fxf3 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-2378 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences