CVE-2006-5403 in Automated Support Assistant
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in an ActiveX control used in Symantec Automated Support Assistant, as used in Norton AntiVirus, Internet Security, and System Works 2005 and 2006, allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5403 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within an ActiveX control component of Symantec's Automated Support Assistant suite. This vulnerability specifically affects Symantec products including Norton AntiVirus, Internet Security, and System Works versions 2005 and 2006, making it a widespread concern across multiple security product lines. The flaw exists within the ActiveX control implementation that handles user input processing, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation through carefully crafted input data that exceeds the allocated stack buffer space. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the program stack.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves an attacker crafting malicious input that triggers the buffer overflow condition when the vulnerable ActiveX control processes user-supplied data. The overflow occurs during the execution of the control's code, where the stack buffer is insufficiently sized to accommodate the incoming data, leading to memory corruption that can result in application crashes or potentially allow for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited, meaning a user must intentionally interact with the malicious content or visit a compromised website that loads the vulnerable ActiveX control. This user-assisted remote attack vector aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203, which encompasses exploitation of vulnerabilities through user interaction and remote code execution opportunities.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-5403 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as the buffer overflow could potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where these Symantec products were widely deployed, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems, escalate privileges, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the core security infrastructure of affected systems, potentially compromising the integrity of endpoint protection mechanisms. Organizations running these legacy products faced particular risk as the vulnerability could be exploited to bypass security controls, undermining the very protection that Symantec products were designed to provide. The widespread adoption of these Symantec products across both consumer and enterprise markets amplified the potential impact of this vulnerability, as it could affect numerous systems simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through official Symantec security patches and updates, which would address the underlying buffer overflow condition by implementing proper input validation and bounds checking. System administrators should also consider implementing security measures such as ActiveX control restrictions, browser security policies, and application whitelisting to prevent execution of vulnerable components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in software development, as outlined in industry standards and best practices for secure coding. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially vulnerable ActiveX controls or components within their environments, as similar issues may exist in other legacy software applications. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, particularly in environments where legacy security software remains in use.