CVE-2006-5884 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in DirectAnimation ActiveX controls for Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 through 6 have unknown impact and remote attack vectors, possibly related to (1) Danim.dll and (2) Lmrt.dll, a different set of vulnerabilities than CVE-2006-4446 and CVE-2006-4777.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5884 represents a critical security flaw affecting DirectAnimation ActiveX controls within Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 5.01 through 6. This issue manifests through two primary components namely Danim.dll and Lmrt.dll which together create a complex attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerabilities are classified as unspecified, indicating that the exact nature of the security flaws remains partially unknown, though their potential impact and remote exploitability are acknowledged. The presence of multiple unspecified vulnerabilities within the same control set suggests a systemic weakness in the underlying architecture of these ActiveX components, which are designed to provide rich multimedia and animation capabilities within web browsers.
DirectAnimation ActiveX controls are integral components that enable sophisticated multimedia experiences in older versions of Internet Explorer, particularly those from the 5.x and 6.0 release cycles. These controls leverage the Windows operating system's multimedia capabilities through dynamic link libraries such as Danim.dll and Lmrt.dll, which handle various animation and rendering functions. The vulnerabilities within these libraries likely stem from improper input validation, memory corruption issues, or insecure coding practices that were prevalent in the development of ActiveX controls during this era. The fact that these vulnerabilities are specifically associated with the DirectAnimation framework indicates that the issue may involve buffer overflows, integer overflows, or other memory-related flaws that could be exploited through carefully crafted web content.
The remote attack vectors available through CVE-2006-5884 present significant operational risks to organizations utilizing older Internet Explorer versions. Attackers can potentially exploit these vulnerabilities by delivering malicious web content that triggers the vulnerable ActiveX controls when users browse to compromised websites. This remote exploitation capability means that the attack surface extends beyond local network boundaries, allowing adversaries to compromise systems from external locations. The vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they affect widely deployed browser versions that were standard in corporate and enterprise environments during the mid-2000s, making them attractive targets for widespread exploitation campaigns. The attack vectors likely involve the manipulation of ActiveX control parameters or the injection of malicious code that leverages the inherent weaknesses in Danim.dll and Lmrt.dll components.
Security researchers have classified these vulnerabilities under the broader context of ActiveX control exploitation techniques that align with several ATT&CK framework categories including T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter). The vulnerabilities may also relate to CWE categories such as CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow) or CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) which are common in legacy ActiveX controls due to the lack of modern memory safety features. Organizations that have not migrated away from these older browser versions remain at significant risk, as the exploitation of these controls can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user. The impact of exploitation typically includes unauthorized access, data theft, system takeover, and potential lateral movement within compromised networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-5884 require immediate action to address the underlying ActiveX control vulnerabilities. The most effective approach involves the complete removal of vulnerable ActiveX controls from affected systems, particularly those running Internet Explorer 5.01 through 6.0. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling ActiveX controls entirely or restricting their execution to trusted sites only. Security patches from Microsoft, though likely limited for these legacy versions, should be applied where available. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block exploitation attempts targeting these specific ActiveX components. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping browsers updated remains crucial. The vulnerability's classification as affecting older browser versions emphasizes the importance of migrating to modern browser platforms that do not support ActiveX controls, thereby eliminating the risk associated with these legacy components. Organizations should also consider implementing strict access controls and monitoring for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts against these vulnerable systems.