4 - RHSA-2011:0616

Problem Description:

Updated pidgin packages that fix multiple security issues and various bugs are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having low security impact. A Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base score, which gives a detailed severity rating, is available from the CVE link in the References section.

2. Relevant releases/architectures:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) - i386, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) - i386, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) - i386, ppc64, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) - i386, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) - i386, x86_64

3. Description:

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

Multiple NULL pointer dereference flaws were found in the way the Pidgin Yahoo! Messenger Protocol plug-in handled malformed YMSG packets. A remote attacker could use these flaws to crash Pidgin via a specially-crafted notification message. (CVE-2011-1091)

Red Hat would like to thank the Pidgin project for reporting these issues. Upstream acknowledges Marius Wachtler as the original reporter.

This update also fixes the following bugs:

* Previous versions of the pidgin package did not properly clear certain data structures used in libpurple/cipher.c when attempting to free them. Partial information could potentially be extracted from the incorrectly cleared regions of the previously freed memory. With this update, data structures are properly cleared when freed. (BZ#684685)

* This erratum upgrades Pidgin to upstream version 2.7.9. For a list of all changes addressed in this upgrade, refer to http://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/ChangeLog (BZ#616917)

* Some incomplete translations for the kn_IN and ta_IN locales have been corrected. (BZ#633860, BZ#640170)

Users of pidgin should upgrade to these updated packages, which resolve these issues. Pidgin must be restarted for this update to take effect.

4. Solution:

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

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

5. Bugs fixed (http://bugzilla.redhat.com/):

633860 - [kn_IN] Translation is not complete, untranslated message in Screenshot 640170 - [ta_IN] Translation need to review for "Add Account" 683031 - CVE-2011-1091 Pidgin: Multiple NULL pointer dereference flaws in Yahoo protocol plug-in 684685 - Cipher API information disclosure in pidgin