CVE-2016-2372 [Medium] | Out-of-bounds Read in Pidgin

An information leak exists in the handling of the MXIT protocol in Pidgin. Specially crafted MXIT data sent via the server could potentially result in an out-of-bounds read. A malicious user, server, or man-in-the-middle attacker can send an invalid size for a file transfer which will trigger an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. This could result in a denial of service or copy data from memory to the file, resulting in an information leak if the file is sent to another user.

#	Date	Old EPSS score	New EPSS score	Delta (New - Old)
1	2026-06-15	1.54%	1.76%	+0.22%
2	2026-05-13	1.22%	1.54%	+0.32%
3	2025-12-28	—	1.22%	—

Date

Old EPSS score

New EPSS score

Delta (New - Old)

2026-06-15

1.54%

1.76%

+0.22%

2026-05-13

1.22%

1.54%

+0.32%

2025-12-28

—

1.22%

—

Base score	Version	Severity	Vector	Exploitability	Impact	Score source
5.9	3.0	MEDIUM	`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H` Click to expand Attack vector (AV:N) Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine. Attack complexity (AC:H) Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work. Privileges required (PR:L) A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin. User interaction (UI:N) Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping. Scope (S:U) Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems. Confidentiality (C:L) Some sensitive info could get out, but not a total data dump. Integrity (I:N) Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.	1.6	4.2	[email protected]
4.9	2.0	MEDIUM	`AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:P` Click to expand Access vector (AV:N) Can be exploited remotely over network reachability. Access complexity (AC:M) Exploitation needs some favorable conditions, but not exceptional ones. Authentication (AU:S) A single authentication is required. Confidentiality impact (C:P) Partial confidentiality impact. Integrity impact (I:N) No integrity impact. Availability impact (A:P) Partial availability impact.	6.8	4.9	[email protected]

Base score

Version

Severity

Vector

Exploitability

Impact

Score source

5.9

3.0

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H Click to expand

Attack vector (AV:N): Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H): Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:L): A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N): Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U): Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:L): Some sensitive info could get out, but not a total data dump.
Integrity (I:N): Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:H): Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

1.6

4.2

[email protected]

4.9

2.0

MEDIUM

AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:P Click to expand

Access vector (AV:N): Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:M): Exploitation needs some favorable conditions, but not exceptional ones.
Authentication (AU:S): A single authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:P): Partial confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:N): No integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:P): Partial availability impact.

6.8

4.9

[email protected]

OS Trackers for CVE-2016-2372

vendor	priority	summary	link
`debian`	not yet assigned	CVE-2016-2372 not yet assigned priority: Debian including 1 source packages (pidgin), 5 status rows across 5 suites (bookworm, bullseye, forky, sid, trixie): resolved 5.	https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-2372
`gentoo`	normal	CVE-2016-2372: 1 GLSA(s) (201701-38), 1 atom(s) (net-im/pidgin); latest impact normal.	https://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?quicksearch=CVE-2016-2372
`redhat`	medium	—	https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-2372
`suse`	medium	CVE-2016-2372 severity moderate: SUSE including 7 source package names (finch-2.6.6-0.29.1, finch-devel-2.6.6-0.29.1, …), 7 product×package rows across 1 product lines (SUSE Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4): Fixed 7.	https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-2372/
`ubuntu`	low	CVE-2016-2372 low priority: Ubuntu including 1 source packages (pidgin), 5 status rows across 5 suites (precise, trusty, upstream, wily, xenial): released 5.	https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2372

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2016-2372

Vendor	Product	Version	Raw CPE
pidgin	pidgin	<= 2.10.12	cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin::::::::
canonical	ubuntu_linux	12.04	cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04::::lts:::
canonical	ubuntu_linux	14.04	cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04::::lts:::
canonical	ubuntu_linux	15.10	cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:::::::*
debian	debian_linux	8.0	cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:::::::*

References for CVE-2016-2372

URL	Tags
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3620	Third Party Advisory
http://www.pidgin.im/news/security/?id=105	Patch Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91335	Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
http://www.talosintelligence.com/reports/TALOS-2016-0140/	Technical Description Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3031-1	Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-38

URL

CVE-2016-2372

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2016-2372

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2016-2372

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2016-2372

OS Trackers for CVE-2016-2372

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2016-2372

References for CVE-2016-2372