Description
The OSCAR protocol plugin in libpurple in Pidgin before 2.6.3 and Adium before 1.3.7 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via crafted contact-list data for (1) ICQ and possibly (2) AIM, as demonstrated by the SIM IM client.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | pidgin | 2.6.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | pidgin | 2.6.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | pidgin | 2.6.3-1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | pidgin | 2.4.3-4lenny5 | DSA-1932-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | finch +8 | 2.6.3-2.el5 | RHSA-2009:1536 |
| RHEL 4 | finch +8 | 2.6.3-2.el4 | RHSA-2009:1536 |
| RHEL 3 | pidgin | 1.5.1-6.el3 | RHSA-2009:1535 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Rhel Productivity 5 | finch +8 | 2.6.3-2.el5 | RHSA-2009:1536 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2009:1536 Red Hat Security Advisory: pidgin security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2009:1535 Red Hat Security Advisory: pidgin security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1932-1 pidgin - arbitrary code execution Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- ADV-2009-2949 vdb-entry
- 37017 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:18388 vdb-entry signature
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9414 vdb-entry signature
- http://developer.pidgin.im/viewmtn/revision/info/781682333aea0c801d280c3507ee25552a60bfc0
- MDVSA-2010:085 vendor-advisory
- http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/10481
- pidgin-oscar-protocol-dos(53807) vdb-entry
- ADV-2009-2951 vdb-entry
- ADV-2010-1020 vdb-entry
- http://www.pidgin.im/news/security/?id=41
- 36719 vdb-entry
- 37072 third-party-advisory
- http://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/ChangeLog