How severe is CVE-2013-6486?

CVE-2013-6486 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2013-6486 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (89th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2013-6486?

CVE-2013-6486 primarily affects Pidgin. In total, 53 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2013-6486?

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-2013-6486 published?

CVE-2013-6486 was published on 2014-02-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2013-6486

CVE-2013-6486 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: 4% (89th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-20
Affected product: Pidgin
Published: 2014-02-06
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

gtkutils.c in Pidgin before 2.10.8 on Windows allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary programs via a message containing a file: URL that is improperly handled during construction of an explorer.exe command. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2011-3185.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2013-6486?: gtkutils.c in Pidgin before 2.10.8 on Windows allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary programs via a message containing a file: URL that is improperly handled during construction of an explorer.exe command. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2011-3185.
How severe is CVE-2013-6486?: CVE-2013-6486 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.
Is CVE-2013-6486 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (89th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2013-6486?: CVE-2013-6486 primarily affects Pidgin. In total, 53 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2013-6486?: 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-2013-6486 published?: CVE-2013-6486 was published on 2014-02-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (53)

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:2.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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