CVE-2006-4927 in Norton AntiVirus
Summary
by MITRE
The (a) NAVENG (NAVENG.SYS) and (b) NAVEX15 (NAVEX15.SYS) device drivers 20061.3.0.12 and later, as used in Symantec AntiVirus and security products, allow local users to gain privileges by overwriting critical system addresses using a crafted Irp to the IOCTL functions (1) 0x222AD3, (2) 0x222AD7, and (3) 0x222ADB.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-4927 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Symantec's antivirus security products, specifically affecting the NAVENG.SYS and NAVEX15.SYS kernel-mode device drivers. These drivers, version 20061.3.0.12 and later, are integral components of Symantec's security suite that handle system-level operations through Windows I/O Control (IOCTL) interfaces. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and improper handling of IOCTL function calls, creating a pathway for local attackers to manipulate critical system memory structures. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows an attacker with low-privilege access to potentially elevate their privileges to kernel level, effectively bypassing operating system security mechanisms and gaining full control over the compromised system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of specific IOCTL function codes 0x222AD3, 0x222AD7, and 0x222ADB which are implemented within the affected device drivers. These function codes represent legitimate interface points for driver communication but contain implementation flaws that allow attackers to overwrite critical system addresses in kernel memory. The vulnerability stems from the drivers' failure to properly validate input parameters and validate the memory addresses being written to during IOCTL processing. This allows a local user to craft specially formatted IRP (I/O Request Packet) structures that can be submitted to these IOCTL functions, resulting in arbitrary memory corruption that can be leveraged to redirect execution flow or modify system-critical data structures. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in the input validation mechanism (CWE-20) combined with improper handling of system resources (CWE-362), creating a privilege escalation vector through kernel-mode memory corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-4927 is severe and far-reaching within enterprise security environments that rely on Symantec antivirus solutions. Local privilege escalation vulnerabilities of this nature provide attackers with the ability to bypass traditional security controls, as the compromised system gains kernel-level privileges that allow complete system compromise. Once an attacker achieves kernel-level execution, they can manipulate system memory, disable security features, install rootkits, or exfiltrate sensitive data without detection. The vulnerability affects systems running various versions of Windows operating systems where Symantec's security products are installed, creating a significant risk for organizations that have not patched their systems. The attack vector requires only local access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user accounts may be compromised through social engineering, phishing, or other means. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques (T1068) and kernel-mode rootkits (T1014), representing a critical threat to system integrity and security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4927 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Symantec products through official security updates provided by Symantec. Organizations should prioritize deployment of the vendor-supplied patches that address the input validation flaws in the affected device drivers. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as disabling unnecessary device drivers, applying kernel patch protection mechanisms, and monitoring for suspicious IOCTL activity in system logs. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in kernel-mode drivers, particularly in security software that operates with elevated privileges. Organizations should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify systems running the affected driver versions and ensure comprehensive patch management processes are in place. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege and restricting local user access where possible can reduce the attack surface for this type of vulnerability. The incident underscores the critical need for regular security audits of kernel-mode components and adherence to secure coding standards to prevent similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in security software.