CVE-2010-0013 in Adium
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in slp.c in the MSN protocol plugin in libpurple in Pidgin 2.6.4 and Adium 1.3.8 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in an application/x-msnmsgrp2p MSN emoticon (aka custom smiley) request, a related issue to CVE-2004-0122. NOTE: it could be argued that this is resultant from a vulnerability in which an emoticon download request is processed even without a preceding text/x-mms-emoticon message that announced availability of the emoticon.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-0013 represents a directory traversal flaw within the MSN protocol plugin of Pidgin messaging client version 2.6.4 and Adium version 1.3.8. This security weakness resides in the slp.c file and specifically affects how the application handles application/x-msnmsgrp2p MSN emoticon requests, commonly known as custom smiley downloads. The flaw enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the target system by exploiting a simple .. (dot dot) sequence within the emoticon request, creating a path traversal condition that bypasses normal file access controls. This vulnerability operates under the broader category of CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is a fundamental weakness in input validation and file access control mechanisms.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious MSN emoticon request is processed without proper validation of the file path components. The MSN protocol implementation in Pidgin and Adium fails to adequately sanitize the emoticon download paths, allowing attackers to manipulate the file system access through crafted emoticon requests. When the application processes an emoticon download, it accepts the .. sequence in the file path without proper restriction, enabling access to files outside of the intended directory structure. This issue is particularly concerning because it operates in the context of a protocol plugin that handles external communications, making it exploitable through network-based attacks without requiring local system access. The vulnerability is related to CVE-2004-0122, indicating a pattern of similar path traversal issues in MSN protocol implementations that have persisted across different versions.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-0013 extends beyond simple file reading capabilities, as it can potentially expose sensitive system information to remote attackers. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to access configuration files, user credentials, system logs, or other sensitive data stored on the affected system. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication, as it only necessitates sending a specially crafted emoticon request to a target user, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently interact with external contacts. This vulnerability effectively creates a backdoor mechanism that allows unauthorized file access, potentially leading to further compromise through information disclosure, privilege escalation, or as a stepping stone for additional attacks. The impact is particularly severe in corporate environments where instant messaging systems are widely used and may contain sensitive business information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0013 should focus on implementing proper input validation and path restriction mechanisms within the MSN protocol plugin. The most effective approach involves updating to patched versions of Pidgin and Adium where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper sanitization of file paths in emoticon requests. System administrators should also consider implementing network-level restrictions that prevent the processing of emoticon requests from untrusted sources or implement proxy configurations that filter out potentially malicious emoticon content. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it represents a method for executing unauthorized file access operations through protocol handling mechanisms. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their instant messaging systems and ensure that all communication plugins are kept up to date with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other components.