CVE-2016-2374 [High] | Out-of-bounds Read in Pidgin

An exploitable memory corruption vulnerability exists in the handling of the MXIT protocol in Pidgin. Specially crafted MXIT MultiMX message sent via the server can result in an out-of-bounds write leading to memory disclosure and code execution.

#	Date	Old EPSS score	New EPSS score	Delta (New - Old)
1	2026-06-15	2.73%	3.20%	+0.48%
2	2026-05-13	2.78%	2.73%	-0.05%
3	2025-12-28	—	2.78%	—

Date

Old EPSS score

New EPSS score

Delta (New - Old)

2026-06-15

2.73%

3.20%

+0.48%

2026-05-13

2.78%

2.73%

-0.05%

2025-12-28

—

2.78%

—

Base score	Version	Severity	Vector	Exploitability	Impact	Score source
8.1	3.0	HIGH	`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:N) No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough. 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:H) Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way. Integrity (I:H) They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.	2.2	5.9	[email protected]
6.8	2.0	MEDIUM	`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/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:N) No authentication is required. Confidentiality impact (C:P) Partial confidentiality impact. Integrity impact (I:P) Partial integrity impact. Availability impact (A:P) Partial availability impact.	8.6	6.4	[email protected]

Base score

Version

Severity

Vector

Exploitability

Impact

Score source

8.1

3.0

HIGH

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:N): No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
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:H): Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H): They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H): Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

2.2

5.9

[email protected]

6.8

2.0

MEDIUM

AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/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:N): No authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:P): Partial confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:P): Partial integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:P): Partial availability impact.

8.6

6.4

[email protected]

OS Trackers for CVE-2016-2374

vendor	priority	summary	link
`debian`	not yet assigned	CVE-2016-2374 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-2016-2374
`gentoo`	normal	CVE-2016-2374: 1 GLSA(s) (201701-38), 1 atom(s) (net-im/pidgin); latest impact normal.	https://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?quicksearch=CVE-2016-2374
`redhat`	medium	—	https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-2374
`suse`	medium	CVE-2016-2374 severity moderate: SUSE including 9 source package names (finch, finch-devel, …), 36 product×package rows across 6 product lines (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1, … (6 product lines)): Known Not Affected 36.	https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-2374/
`ubuntu`	medium	CVE-2016-2374 medium 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-2016-2374

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2016-2374

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-2016-2374

URL	Tags
http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3620	Third Party Advisory
http://www.pidgin.im/news/security/?id=107	Patch Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/91335	Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
http://www.talosintelligence.com/reports/TALOS-2016-0142/	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-2016-2374

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2016-2374

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2016-2374

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2016-2374

OS Trackers for CVE-2016-2374

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2016-2374

References for CVE-2016-2374