1. Ubuntu Security Notices
  2. USN-675-1

USN-675-1: Pidgin vulnerabilities

Publication date

24 November 2008

Overview

Pidgin vulnerabilities

Releases

Packages

Details

It was discovered that Pidgin did not properly handle certain malformed
messages in the MSN protocol handler. A remote attacker could send a specially
crafted message and possibly execute arbitrary code with user privileges.
(CVE-2008-2927)

It was discovered that Pidgin did not properly handle file transfers containing
a long filename and special characters in the MSN protocol handler. A remote
attacker could send a specially crafted filename in a file transfer request
and cause Pidgin to crash, leading to a denial of service. (CVE-2008-2955)

It was discovered that Pidgin did not impose resource limitations in the UPnP
service. A remote attacker could cause Pidgin to download arbitrary files
and cause a denial of service from memory or disk space exhaustion.
(CVE-2008-2957)

It was discovered that Pidgin did not...

It was discovered that Pidgin did not properly handle certain malformed
messages in the MSN protocol handler. A remote attacker could send a specially
crafted message and possibly execute arbitrary code with user privileges.
(CVE-2008-2927)

It was discovered that Pidgin did not properly handle file transfers containing
a long filename and special characters in the MSN protocol handler. A remote
attacker could send a specially crafted filename in a file transfer request
and cause Pidgin to crash, leading to a denial of service. (CVE-2008-2955)

It was discovered that Pidgin did not impose resource limitations in the UPnP
service. A remote attacker could cause Pidgin to download arbitrary files
and cause a denial of service from memory or disk space exhaustion.
(CVE-2008-2957)

It was discovered that Pidgin did not validate SSL certificates when using a
secure connection. If a remote attacker were able to perform a
machine-in-the-middle attack, this flaw could be exploited to view sensitive
information. This update alters Pidgin behaviour by asking users to confirm
the validity of a certificate upon initial login. (CVE-2008-3532)

Update instructions

After a standard system upgrade you need to restart Pidgin to effect the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
8.04 hardy pidgin –  1:2.4.1-1ubuntu2.2
7.10 gutsy pidgin –  1:2.2.1-1ubuntu4.3

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

Get Ubuntu Pro

References

Have additional questions?

Talk to a member of the team ›