CVE-2006-5646

What it is

Heap-based buffer overflow in Sophos Anti-Virus and Endpoint Security before 6.0.5, Anti-Virus for Linux before 5.0.10, and other platforms before 4.11, when archive scanning is enabled, allows remote attackers to trigger a denial of service (memory corruption) via a CHM file with an LZX decompression header that specifies a Window_size of 0.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. Limited direct impact.

Exploit odds

17.9% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS). Higher than most.

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2006-11-01 15:07 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-16 22:31 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 17.9% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.0 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2006-11-01 15:07 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-16 22:31 UTC

Exploit probability

17.9% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-119 · Buffer errors

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Sophos anti-virus 4.04
• Sophos anti-virus 4.05
• Sophos anti-virus 4.5.3
• Sophos anti-virus 4.5.4
• Sophos anti-virus 4.5.11
• Sophos anti-virus 4.5.12
• Sophos anti-virus 4.7.1
• Sophos anti-virus 4.7.2

Attack profile CVSS 2.0 · 5.0

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Authentication

None

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

Partial

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2006-5646.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2006-5646. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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