CVE-2006-3454 in AntiVirus
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple format string vulnerabilities in Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.1 up to 10.0, and Client Security 1.x up to 3.0, allow local users to execute arbitrary code via format strings in (1) Tamper Protection and (2) Virus Alert Notification messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3454 represents a critical format string vulnerability affecting Symantec's antivirus software suite, specifically targeting versions 8.1 through 10.0 of Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition and Client Security 1.x through 3.0. This class of vulnerability falls under CWE-134 which defines weaknesses related to format string vulnerabilities where program input is used as a format string without proper validation. The flaw exists within the software's handling of user-supplied data in critical security components, particularly in Tamper Protection and Virus Alert Notification mechanisms that are designed to monitor and report on system security events.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when local users can manipulate format string specifiers within the targeted notification systems. When the antivirus software processes these malformed format strings in Tamper Protection or Virus Alert Notification messages, it can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the running antivirus process. This represents a severe privilege escalation vector since the antivirus software typically operates with elevated system permissions to perform security functions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows local attackers who already have system access to potentially gain higher privileges and execute malicious code within the security context of the antivirus software itself.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where Symantec antivirus solutions are deployed, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the protection mechanism. The attack surface is expanded because the vulnerability exists in components that are designed to alert administrators about security threats, making it difficult to detect when an attacker exploits this weakness. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable full system compromise, especially when combined with other local privilege escalation techniques. Organizations running affected versions face the risk of attackers using this vulnerability to bypass security controls and establish persistent access to their systems.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3454 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Symantec products to the latest available versions that address the format string vulnerabilities. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit local user privileges and reduce the attack surface. Monitoring for unusual activity in antivirus log files and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed format string patterns can provide early warning of exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potential format string vulnerabilities in their security infrastructure and ensure proper input validation is implemented across all security components. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of secure coding practices and proper validation of user inputs in security-critical applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.