---
title: "CVE-2017-2640\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-2640?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2017-2640

Publication date 10 March 2017

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**9.8 · Critical**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-2640?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

An out-of-bounds write flaw was found in the way Pidgin before 2.12.0
processed XML content. A malicious remote server could potentially use this
flaw to crash Pidgin or execute arbitrary code in the context of the pidgin
process.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pidgin | 16.10 yakkety | Fixed 1:2.10.12-0ubuntu9.1 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 1:2.10.12-0ubuntu5.2 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 1:2.10.9-0ubuntu3.4 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 1:2.10.3-0ubuntu1.8 |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-2640?format=md#patch-details)

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| pidgin | * Upstream:   <https://bitbucket.org/pidgin/main/commits/b2fc9e774cb9> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

9.8 · Critical

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 9.8 · Critical |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-2640)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-2640)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2017-2640)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-2640)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3231-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3231-1)
+ Pidgin vulnerability
+ 14 March 2017

### Other references

* <https://www.pidgin.im/news/security/?id=109>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-2640>