CVE-2016-2370 in Pidgin
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service vulnerability exists in the handling of the MXIT protocol in Pidgin. Specially crafted MXIT data sent from the server could potentially result in an out-of-bounds read. A malicious server or man-in-the-middle attacker can send invalid data to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The CVE-2016-2370 vulnerability represents a critical denial of service flaw within Pidgin's MXIT protocol implementation that demonstrates the inherent risks associated with improper input validation in instant messaging clients. This vulnerability specifically targets the message exchange protocol used by MXIT, a messaging service that was integrated into Pidgin to enable communication with MXIT network users. The flaw manifests when the client receives malformed data packets from a malicious server or man-in-the-middle attacker, creating a scenario where the application's memory handling mechanisms become compromised.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs during the parsing of MXIT protocol data structures. When Pidgin processes incoming MXIT messages, it fails to properly validate the length and format of received data fields before attempting to access memory locations. This allows an attacker to craft specially formatted MXIT packets that, when processed by the vulnerable client, cause the application to read memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. Such out-of-bounds memory access typically results in application crashes or unpredictable behavior, effectively rendering the messaging client unusable for legitimate communication purposes. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation in network protocol implementations.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2370 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications for users of Pidgin clients. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through two primary attack vectors: direct malicious server manipulation or man-in-the-middle position attacks where network traffic is intercepted and modified. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to execute, as the vulnerability can be triggered through standard network communication protocols without requiring elevated privileges or complex exploitation techniques. Users who maintain active connections to MXIT-enabled services become immediately vulnerable, with the potential for widespread service disruption affecting both individual users and organizations relying on Pidgin for communication. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploitation of remote services through protocol manipulation, and demonstrates how seemingly benign protocol handling can create significant security risks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2370 focus primarily on patch management and protocol validation improvements. The most effective solution involves updating Pidgin to versions that include proper input validation and bounds checking for MXIT protocol data handling. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect unusual MXIT traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be advised to disable MXIT protocol support in Pidgin if they are not actively using MXIT services, as this eliminates the attack surface entirely. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in network protocol implementations and serves as a reminder that even widely-used applications can contain critical flaws in their protocol handling mechanisms. Organizations should consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely remediation of such vulnerabilities, as the window between vulnerability disclosure and exploitation is often minimal in real-world scenarios.