Description
libpurple in Finch in Pidgin before 2.6.6, when an XMPP multi-user chat (MUC) room is used, does not properly parse nicknames containing <br> sequences, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted nickname.
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 | 2.6.6-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | pidgin | 2.6.6-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | pidgin | 2.6.6-1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | pidgin | 2.4.3-4lenny6 | DSA-2038-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | finch +8 | 2.6.6-1.el5 | RHSA-2010:0115 |
| RHEL 4 | finch +8 | 2.6.6-1.el4 | RHSA-2010:0115 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Rhel Productivity 5 | finch +8 | 2.6.6-1.el5 | RHSA-2010:0115 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2010:0115 Red Hat Security Advisory: pidgin security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2038-1 pidgin - denial of service Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- FEDORA-2010-1279 vendor-advisory
- 38294 vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=565786
- RHSA-2010:0115 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2010-0413 vdb-entry
- 38563 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2010:085 vendor-advisory
- USN-902-1 vendor-advisory
- 38640 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2010-0914 vdb-entry
- 38658 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:18230 vdb-entry signature
- FEDORA-2010-1934 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2010-1020 vdb-entry
- SUSE-SR:2010:006 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2010-1383 vendor-advisory
- 62439 vdb-entry
- DSA-2038 vendor-advisory
- 38712 third-party-advisory
- pidgin-xmpp-nickname-dos(56399) vdb-entry
- http://pidgin.im/news/security/?id=44
- 39509 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11485 vdb-entry signature
- MDVSA-2010:041 vendor-advisory
- 38915 third-party-advisory
- http://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/ChangeLog