CVE-2006-3975 in eTrust Antivirus WebScan
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in CA eTrust Antivirus WebScan allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code due to "improper bounds checking when processing certain user input."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3975 resides within CA eTrust Antivirus WebScan software, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution through improper input validation mechanisms. This unspecified vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes certain user input, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking procedures that fail to properly validate the size and content of incoming data streams, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that exceed expected input limits.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses documented under CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of length of input buffers. The improper bounds checking mechanism within CA eTrust Antivirus WebScan creates a condition where user-supplied data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to stack corruption or heap overflow scenarios. Attackers can exploit this by sending specially crafted input through the WebScan interface, which processes the data without adequate validation, ultimately resulting in code execution privileges on the target system. This vulnerability type falls squarely within the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would allow adversaries to execute malicious commands through the compromised antivirus scanning functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-3975 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of systems running vulnerable versions of CA eTrust Antivirus WebScan. Organizations utilizing this software face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their networks, as the compromised system could serve as a foothold for further attacks. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability eliminates the need for physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where antivirus systems are deployed across multiple locations. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability in the context of broader defensive strategies, as it represents a critical failure in input validation that could affect other components of the antivirus suite.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3975 should prioritize immediate patching of affected CA eTrust Antivirus WebScan installations, as vendors typically release security updates addressing such bounds checking vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable systems, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous input patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of input validation controls, including proper bounds checking and data sanitization, should be reinforced across all application interfaces to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future software releases. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malicious input patterns targeting buffer overflow conditions, as these protections align with ATT&CK techniques for defense evasion and privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input validation mechanisms will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software development cycles.