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Vulnerability record · CVE-2016-5311 · published 9 January 2020

CVE-2016-5311: Symantec endpoint protection uncontrolled search path element vulnerability

Symantec · Endpoint Protection

A Privilege Escalation vulnerability exists in Symantec Norton Antivirus, Norton AntiVirus with Backup, Norton Security, Norton Security with Backup, Norton Internet Security, Norton 360, Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition Cloud, and Endpoint Protection Cloud Client due to a DLL-preloading without path restrictions, which could let a local malicious user obtain system privileges.

7.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 0.71% · top 48.2% CWE-427 · Uncontrolled search path element
7.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 6.9
0.71%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
9Affected product versions listed by NVD
10References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

A Privilege Escalation vulnerability exists in Symantec Norton Antivirus, Norton AntiVirus with Backup, Norton Security, Norton Security with Backup, Norton Internet Security, Norton 360, Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition Cloud, and Endpoint Protection Cloud Client due to a DLL-preloading without path restrictions, which could let a local malicious user obtain system privileges.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

9 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94295 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037323 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037324 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037325 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://www.symantec.com/security_response/securityupdates/detail.jsp?fid=security_advisory&pvid=security_advisory&year= Vendor Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94295 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037323 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037324 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037325 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://www.symantec.com/security_response/securityupdates/detail.jsp?fid=security_advisory&pvid=security_advisory&year= Vendor Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

10.0CVE-2010-0108Symantec antivirus memory buffer overflow vulnerabilityBuffer overflow in the cliproxy.objects.1 ActiveX control in the Symantec Client Proxy (CLIproxy.dll) in Symantec AntiVirus 10.0.x, 10.1.x before MR9…EPSS 19%10.0CVE-2009-1429Symantec AMS2 Intel LANDesk CBA Remote Command ExecutionThe Intel LANDesk Common Base Agent (CBA) in Symantec Alert Management System 2 (AMS2) passes crafted packet contents directly to the CreateProcessA …EPSS 88%analysed10.0CVE-2006-6490Supportsoft scriptrunner vulnerabilityMultiple buffer overflows in the SupportSoft (1) SmartIssue (tgctlsi.dll) and (2) ScriptRunner (tgctlsr.dll) ActiveX controls, as used by Symantec Au…EPSS 10%10.0CVE-2006-2630Symantec Antivirus and Client Security stack buffer overflowSymantec Antivirus 10.1 and Client Security 3.1 contain a stack-based buffer overflow that remote attackers can trigger through unspecified attack ve…EPSS 74%analysed10.0CVE-2005-2017Symantec norton antivirus vulnerabilitySymantec AntiVirus 9 Corporate Edition allows local users to gain privileges via the "Scan for viruses" option, which launches a help window with rai…EPSS 1.7%10.0CVE-2004-0487Symantec norton antivirus vulnerabilityA certain ActiveX control in Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2004 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption) and possibly …EPSS 6.4%10.0CVE-2000-0793Novell client vulnerabilityNorton AntiVirus 5.00.01C with the Novell Netware client does not properly restart the auto-protection service after the first user has logged off of…EPSS 2.0%9.8CVE-2016-3645Symantec norton security vulnerabilityInteger overflow in the TNEF unpacker in the AntiVirus Decomposer engine in Symantec Advanced Threat Protection (ATP); Symantec Data Center Security:…EPSS 25%

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2016-5311), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-29). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.