CVE-2016-4323 in Pidgin
Summary
by MITRE
A directory traversal exists in the handling of the MXIT protocol in Pidgin. Specially crafted MXIT data sent from the server could potentially result in an overwrite of files. A malicious server or someone with access to the network traffic can provide an invalid filename for a splash image triggering the vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4323 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Pidgin's implementation of the MXIT protocol, a messaging protocol used for instant communication. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of file paths received from remote servers during MXIT protocol interactions. The vulnerability specifically affects how Pidgin processes splash images and other file references, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate file system operations through crafted malicious data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious server or network attacker crafts specially formatted MXIT protocol data containing invalid filename references for splash images. When Pidgin processes these malformed data packets, the application fails to properly validate the file paths, allowing an attacker to traverse the file system directories and potentially overwrite critical system files. This directory traversal vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4323 extends beyond simple file overwrites, as it provides attackers with potential persistence mechanisms and system compromise capabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate Pidgin's file system operations to write malicious content to arbitrary locations, potentially including system directories, configuration files, or other critical application components. This could lead to privilege escalation, denial of service, or even complete system compromise depending on the privileges under which Pidgin operates. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the protocol level, meaning that any MXIT server interaction could potentially trigger the exploit without requiring user interaction.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4323 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization of all MXIT protocol data, particularly file path references. System administrators should ensure that Pidgin is updated to versions containing patches that address this vulnerability, as the original implementation lacked proper path validation mechanisms. Network-level protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for suspicious MXIT protocol traffic patterns, though these measures are secondary to proper application-level fixes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in instant messaging applications, particularly when handling user-provided or server-provided file references. Organizations using Pidgin should consider disabling MXIT protocol support entirely if it is not required for their operations, as this removes the attack surface associated with this specific vulnerability. This weakness also highlights the broader ATT&CK framework concept of privilege escalation through file system manipulation, where attackers can leverage directory traversal vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to system resources and potentially escalate their privileges within the affected system environment.