RHSA-2009:1535 - Security Advisory

Topic

An updated pidgin package that fixes several security issues is now
available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.

This update has been rated as having moderate security impact by the Red
Hat Security Response Team.

Description

Pidgin is an instant messaging program which can log in to multiple
accounts on multiple instant messaging networks simultaneously.

An invalid pointer dereference bug was found in the way the Pidgin OSCAR
protocol implementation processed lists of contacts. A remote attacker
could send a specially-crafted contact list to a user running Pidgin,
causing Pidgin to crash. (CVE-2009-3615)

A NULL pointer dereference flaw was found in the way the Pidgin IRC
protocol plug-in handles IRC topics. A malicious IRC server could send a
specially-crafted IRC TOPIC message, which once received by Pidgin, would
lead to a denial of service (Pidgin crash). (CVE-2009-2703)

A NULL pointer dereference flaw was found in the way the Pidgin MSN
protocol plug-in handles improper MSNSLP invitations. A remote attacker
could send a specially-crafted MSNSLP invitation request, which once
accepted by a valid Pidgin user, would lead to a denial of service (Pidgin
crash). (CVE-2009-3083)

All Pidgin users should upgrade to this updated package, which contains
backported patches to resolve these issues. Pidgin must be restarted for
this update to take effect.

Solution

Before applying this update, make sure that all previously-released
errata relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to use
the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 3 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 3 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 3 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 3 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 3 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 3 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 3 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 3 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 3 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 3 s390
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 3 ppc

Fixes

• BZ - 521823 - CVE-2009-2703 Pidgin: NULL pointer dereference by handling IRC topic(s) (DoS)
• BZ - 521832 - CVE-2009-3083 Pidgin: NULL pointer dereference by processing incomplete MSN SLP invite (DoS)
• BZ - 529357 - CVE-2009-3615 Pidgin: Invalid pointer dereference (crash) after receiving contacts from SIM IM client

CVEs

• CVE-2009-3083
• CVE-2009-2703
• CVE-2009-3615

References

• http://www.redhat.com/security/updates/classification/#moderate