CVE-2006-5966 in ActiveScan
Summary
by MITRE
Panda ActiveScan 5.53.00, and other versions before 5.54.01, allows remote attackers to (1) reboot the system using the Reinicializar method in the ActiveScan.1 ActiveX control, or (2) determine arbitrary file existence and size via the ObtenerTamano method in the PAVPZ.SOS.1 ActiveX control.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5966 affects Panda ActiveScan versions prior to 5.54.01, presenting significant security risks through improper input validation and lack of proper access controls within ActiveX components. This vulnerability exists within the ActiveScan.1 ActiveX control and the PAVPZ.SOS.1 ActiveX control, which are components of Panda Security's anti-virus software suite designed for enterprise network protection. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input passed to these ActiveX controls, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the system through remote code execution vectors and information disclosure mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves two distinct attack vectors that leverage the insecure design of ActiveX controls. The first vector allows remote attackers to execute a system reboot through the Reinicializar method within the ActiveScan.1 ActiveX control, effectively enabling denial of service attacks that can disrupt critical system operations and potentially cause business continuity issues. The second vector involves the ObtenerTamano method in the PAVPZ.SOS.1 ActiveX control, which permits attackers to determine the existence and size of arbitrary files on the target system. This information disclosure capability provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks targeting specific system components or sensitive files.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-5966 extends beyond simple system disruption to encompass serious privacy and security concerns. The ability to perform arbitrary file existence checks through the ObtenerTamano method represents a significant information disclosure vulnerability that aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure" in software systems. This capability enables attackers to map file systems and identify potential targets for further exploitation, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or privilege escalation. The reboot functionality through the Reinicializar method creates a denial of service condition that can be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where system uptime is critical. These vulnerabilities demonstrate poor input validation practices and inadequate privilege separation, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to perform system-level operations that should be restricted to authorized administrators.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to ATT&CK framework categories including T1499 for network denial of service and T1082 for system information discovery. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with capabilities to perform reconnaissance and disruption attacks without requiring any authentication or local access. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment to update Panda ActiveScan to version 5.54.01 or later, which addresses these specific ActiveX control vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit exposure of systems running ActiveX controls, disable unnecessary ActiveX components, and conduct comprehensive security assessments of legacy software components that may still be present in enterprise environments. Additionally, regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing should be performed to identify similar insecure ActiveX controls that may exist in other security software products.