CVE-2006-5478

Exp

Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in Novell eDirectory 8.8.x before 8.8.1 FTF1, and 8.x up to 8.7.3.8, and Novell NetMail before 3.52e FTF2, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long HTTP Host header, which triggers an overflow in the BuildRedirectURL function; or vectors related to a username containing a . (dot) character in the (2) SMTP, (3) POP, (4) IMAP, (5) HTTP, or (6) Networked Messaging Application Protocol (NMAP) Netmail services.

Published: 2006-10-24 Last update: 2026-04-23 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]

Conclusion & alert: CVE-2006-5478 is rated High Exploit Risk (80.1/100): CVSS High severity, with high exploitation likelihood (EPSS 91.51%, 100th percentile). Core evidence: 4 public exploit reference(s) are indexed (Exploit-DB). Mandatory action: Public exploits are available—assess exposure, apply mitigations, and prioritize patching.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Public exploit references (Exploit-DB) for CVE-2006-5478

EDB-ID Source Kind Published Link
16773 exploit_db edb 2010-05-09 Exploit-DB ↗
28837 exploit_db edb 2006-10-30 Exploit-DB ↗
28836 exploit_db edb 2006-10-30 Exploit-DB ↗
28835 exploit_db edb 2006-10-21 Exploit-DB ↗

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2006-5478

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-05-22 91.29% 91.51% +0.22%
2 2026-01-11 91.21% 91.29% +0.08%
3 2025-11-17 91.21%

Full EPSS history (20 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2006-5478

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
7.5 2.0 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P Click to expand
Access vector (AV:N)
Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:L)
Exploitation conditions are straightforward and predictable.
Authentication (AU:N)
No authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:P)
Partial confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:P)
Partial integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:P)
Partial availability impact.
10.0 6.4 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2006-5478

OS Trackers for CVE-2006-5478

vendor priority summary link
alpine CVE-2006-5478: no source package rows; 0 state rows across 0 repos (none); fixed 0, open 0. https://security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2006-5478

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2006-5478

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
novell edirectory 8.0 cpe:2.3:a:novell:edirectory:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
novell edirectory 8.5 cpe:2.3:a:novell:edirectory:8.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
novell edirectory 8.5.12a cpe:2.3:a:novell:edirectory:8.5.12a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
novell edirectory 8.5.27 cpe:2.3:a:novell:edirectory:8.5.27:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
novell edirectory 8.6.2 cpe:2.3:a:novell:edirectory:8.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
novell edirectory 8.7 cpe:2.3:a:novell:edirectory:8.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
novell edirectory 8.7.1 cpe:2.3:a:novell:edirectory:8.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
novell edirectory 8.7.1 cpe:2.3:a:novell:edirectory:8.7.1:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
novell edirectory 8.7.3 cpe:2.3:a:novell:edirectory:8.7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
novell edirectory 8.7.3.8_presp9 cpe:2.3:a:novell:edirectory:8.7.3.8_presp9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2006-5478

URL Tags
http://lists.grok.org.uk/pipermail/full-disclosure/2006-October/050382.html
http://lists.grok.org.uk/pipermail/full-disclosure/2006-October/050388.html
http://secunia.com/advisories/22519 Patch Vendor Advisory
http://securitytracker.com/id?1017125
http://securitytracker.com/id?1017141
http://support.novell.com/cgi-bin/search/searchtid.cgi?/2974600.htm Patch
http://www.mnin.org/advisories/2006_novell_httpstk.pdf Vendor Advisory
http://www.novell.com/support/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=3723994&sliceId=SAL_Public&dialogID=16776123&stateId=1%200%202648401
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/449899/100/0/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/450017/100/0/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/450520/100/100/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/20655
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/20853
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2006/4141 Vendor Advisory
http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-06-035.html
http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-06-036.html
https://secure-support.novell.com/KanisaPlatform/Publishing/134/3096026_f.SAL_Public.html
cvelogic Threat Intelligence