PatchTheCVECVE-2006-3961: Buffer overflow in McSubMgr ActiveX control (mcsubmgr.dll) in McAfee Security Center 6.0.23 for Internet Secur
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This week
MEDIUM 6.8DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE
CVE-2006-3961 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.8) affecting antispyware, internet security suite, personal firewall plus. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
Buffer overflow in McSubMgr ActiveX control (mcsubmgr.dll) in McAfee Security Center 6.0.23 for Internet Security Suite 2006, Wireless Home Network Security, Personal Firewall Plus, VirusScan, Privacy Service, SpamKiller, AntiSpyware, and QuickClean allows remote user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary commands via long string parameters, which are later used in vsprintf.
Why this priority
- EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited
- Public exploit reference
No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.
Risk facts
| CVSS score | 6.8 (Medium) |
| EPSS exploit chance | 34.4% (top 2%) |
| CISA exploited list | No |
| Weakness | CWE-119 |
| Published | 2006-08-01 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-16 |
Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Updated Record last modified
mcafee antispyware DOWNGRADE
Affected: 2005 · 2006
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2005
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy antispyware || rpm -q antispyware || antispyware --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2005 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison antispyware
sudo apt install antispyware=<VERSION_BEFORE_2005>
sudo apt-mark hold antispyware
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list antispyware
sudo dnf downgrade antispyware-<VERSION_BEFORE_2005>
sudo dnf versionlock add antispyware
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
mcafee internet security suite DOWNGRADE
Affected: 2004 · 2005 · 2006
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2004
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy internet-security-suite || rpm -q internet-security-suite || internet-security-suite --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2004 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison internet-security-suite
sudo apt install internet-security-suite=<VERSION_BEFORE_2004>
sudo apt-mark hold internet-security-suite
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list internet-security-suite
sudo dnf downgrade internet-security-suite-<VERSION_BEFORE_2004>
sudo dnf versionlock add internet-security-suite
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
mcafee personal firewall plus DOWNGRADE
Affected: 2004 · 2005 · 2006
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2004
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy personal-firewall-plus || rpm -q personal-firewall-plus || personal-firewall-plus --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2004 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison personal-firewall-plus
sudo apt install personal-firewall-plus=<VERSION_BEFORE_2004>
sudo apt-mark hold personal-firewall-plus
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list personal-firewall-plus
sudo dnf downgrade personal-firewall-plus-<VERSION_BEFORE_2004>
sudo dnf versionlock add personal-firewall-plus
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
mcafee privacy service DOWNGRADE
Affected: 2004 · 2005 · 2006
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2004
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy privacy-service || rpm -q privacy-service || privacy-service --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2004 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison privacy-service
sudo apt install privacy-service=<VERSION_BEFORE_2004>
sudo apt-mark hold privacy-service
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list privacy-service
sudo dnf downgrade privacy-service-<VERSION_BEFORE_2004>
sudo dnf versionlock add privacy-service
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
mcafee quickclean DOWNGRADE
Affected: 2004 · 2005 · 2006
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2004
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy quickclean || rpm -q quickclean || quickclean --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2004 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison quickclean
sudo apt install quickclean=<VERSION_BEFORE_2004>
sudo apt-mark hold quickclean
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list quickclean
sudo dnf downgrade quickclean-<VERSION_BEFORE_2004>
sudo dnf versionlock add quickclean
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
mcafee security center DOWNGRADE
Affected: 4.3 · 6.0 · 6.0.22 · 6.0.23
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.3
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy security-center || rpm -q security-center || security-center --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison security-center
sudo apt install security-center=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.3>
sudo apt-mark hold security-center
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list security-center
sudo dnf downgrade security-center-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.3>
sudo dnf versionlock add security-center
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
Public exploits and detection
Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.
- Exploit-DB: McAfee Subscription Manager - Remote Stack Buffer Overflow (Metasploit)
- Metasploit: McAfee Subscription Manager Stack Buffer Overflow
Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.
Quick answers
How do I fix CVE-2006-3961?
antispyware: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; internet security suite: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; personal firewall plus: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.
Is CVE-2006-3961 being exploited?
CVE-2006-3961 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.
What does CVE-2006-3961 affect?
CVE-2006-3961 affects antispyware, internet security suite, personal firewall plus. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.8). Buffer overflow in McSubMgr ActiveX control (mcsubmgr.dll) in McAfee Security Center 6.0.23 for Internet Security Suite 2006, Wireless Home Network Security, Personal Firewall Plus, VirusScan, Privacy Service, SpamKiller, AntiSpyware, and Q
How urgent is CVE-2006-3961?
Priority 53/100. EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference
Software pages
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