CVE-2011-3185

CVE-2011-3185 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Pidgin with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-20.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 5% (91st percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-20
• Affected product: Pidgin
• Published: 2011-08-29
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

gtkutils.c in Pidgin before 2.10.0 on Windows allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary programs via a file: URL in a message.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2011-3185?

gtkutils.c in Pidgin before 2.10.0 on Windows allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary programs via a file: URL in a message.

How severe is CVE-2011-3185?

CVE-2011-3185 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2011-3185 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (91st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2011-3185?

CVE-2011-3185 primarily affects Pidgin. In total, 44 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2011-3185?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2011-3185 published?

CVE-2011-3185 was published on 2011-08-29 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://developer.pidgin.im/viewmtn/revision/diff/29484df15413fe3bbd21bbfcef26a55362055a81/with/5749f9193063800d27bef75c2388f6f9cc2f7f37/pidgin/gtkutils.c
• http://developer.pidgin.im/viewmtn/revision/info/5749f9193063800d27bef75c2388f6f9cc2f7f37
• http://pidgin.im/news/security/?id=55
• http://secunia.com/advisories/45663
• http://securitytracker.com/id?1025961
• http://www.insomniasec.com/advisories/ISVA-110822.1.htm
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/08/22/
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/08/22/10
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/08/22/12
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/08/22/7
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/519391/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/49268
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/69342
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A18324

Affected products (44)

• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.5.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.5.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.5.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.5.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.5.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.6.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.6.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin:2.7.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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