VDB-27687 · CVE-2005-3657 · BID 15986

McAfee VirusScan Security Center 7.0 ActiveX Control mcinsctl.dll

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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5.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as problematic has been detected in McAfee VirusScan Security Center 7.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality in the library mcinsctl.dll of the component ActiveX Control. Performing a manipulation results in an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2005-3657. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in McAfee VirusScan Security Center 7.0 (Anti-Malware Software). This affects some unknown functionality in the library mcinsctl.dll of the component ActiveX Control. This is going to have an impact on integrity. The summary by CVE is:

The ActiveX control in MCINSCTL.DLL for McAfee VirusScan Security Center does not use the IObjectSafetySiteLock API to restrict access to required domains, which allows remote attackers to create or append to arbitrary files via the StartLog and AddLog methods in the MCINSTALL.McLog object.

The bug was discovered 12/20/2005. The weakness was disclosed 12/21/2005 by Peter Vreugdenhil (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at vupen.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2005-3657 since 11/18/2005. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 06/29/2025).

It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 1 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 38504 (McAfee VirusScan Security Center ActiveX Control Arbitrary File Overwrite Vulnerability).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 9063.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at SecurityFocus (BID 15986†), OSVDB (22003†), Secunia (SA18169†), SecurityTracker (ID 1015390†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-10860†). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Unknown
CWE: Unknown
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

11/18/2005 🔍
12/20/2005 +32 days 🔍
12/20/2005 +0 days 🔍
12/20/2005 +0 days 🔍
12/20/2005 +0 days 🔍
12/21/2005 +1 days 🔍
12/21/2005 +0 days 🔍
12/21/2005 +0 days 🔍
04/02/2006 +102 days 🔍
03/12/2015 +3266 days 🔍
06/29/2025 +3761 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: mcafee.com

Advisory: vupen.com⛔
Researcher: Peter Vreugdenhil
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2005-3657 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2005-3657
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-27687
SecurityFocus: 15986 - McAfee VirusScan Security Center ActiveX Control Arbitrary File Overwrite Vulnerability
Secunia: 18169 - McAfee SecurityCenter "mcinsctl.dll" ActiveX File Overwrite Vulnerability, Highly Critical
OSVDB: 22003 - McAfee VirusScan Security Center ActiveX Control Arbitrary File Overwrite Issue
SecurityTracker: 1015390
Vulnerability Center: 10860 - McAfee VirusScan Bypass ActiveX Restrictions via MCINSCTL.DLL, Medium
Vupen: ADV-2005-3006

Entryinfo

Created: 03/12/2015 11:11
Updated: 06/29/2025 00:44
Changes: 03/12/2015 11:11 (70), 06/16/2019 06:38 (3), 06/29/2025 00:44 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:E57:103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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