Microsoft Hyperlink Object Library hlink.dll object memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
9.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Microsoft Hyperlink Object Library. Affected by this vulnerability is the function object in the library hlink.dll. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2006-3438. There is not any exploit available. To fix this issue, it is recommended to deploy a patch.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, has been found in Microsoft Hyperlink Object Library (Software Library) (affected version not known). This issue affects the function object in the library hlink.dll. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Hyperlink Object Library (hlink.dll), possibly a buffer overflow, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted hyperlinks that are not properly handled when hlink.dll "uses a file containing a malformed function," aka "Hyperlink Object Function Vulnerability."

The bug was discovered 08/08/2006. The weakness was released 08/08/2006 (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at us-cert.gov. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2006-3438 since 07/07/2006. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful 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 06/21/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 22192 (MS06-050: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows Hyperlink Object Library Could Allow Remote Code Execution (920670)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 90338 (Microsoft Windows Hyperlink Object Library Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities (MS06-050)).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 4601.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (28022), Tenable (22192), SecurityFocus (BID 19405†), OSVDB (29724†) and SecurityTracker (ID 1016659†). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-2325, VDB-31058, VDB-31692 and VDB-31686. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 22192
Nessus Name: MS06-050: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows Hyperlink Object Library Could Allow Remote Code Execution (920670)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍

Timelineinfo

07/07/2006 🔍
08/08/2006 +32 days 🔍
08/08/2006 +0 days 🔍
08/08/2006 +0 days 🔍
08/08/2006 +0 days 🔍
08/08/2006 +0 days 🔍
08/08/2006 +0 days 🔍
08/08/2006 +0 days 🔍
08/08/2006 +0 days 🔍
08/09/2006 +1 days 🔍
03/12/2015 +3137 days 🔍
06/21/2025 +3754 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: us-cert.gov
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2006-3438 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2006-3438
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-31691

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 28022
SecurityFocus: 19405 - Microsoft Hyperlink Object Library Function Remote Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
OSVDB: 29724 - CVE-2006-3438 - MS06-050 - Hyperlink Object Library - Code Execution Issue
SecurityTracker: 1016659
Vulnerability Center: 12508 - [MS06-050] Microsoft Hyperlink Object Library (hlink.dll) Unspecified Code Execution Vulnerability, Medium

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/12/2015 15:51
Updated: 06/21/2025 22:09
Changes: 03/12/2015 15:51 (67), 06/24/2019 10:07 (10), 01/05/2025 03:29 (16), 06/21/2025 22:09 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:8DA:103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

Do you need the next level of professionalism?

Upgrade your account now!