CVE-2006-3281

CVE-2006-3281 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.1. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 48% places it in the 99th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-20.

Key facts

Description

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 does not properly handle Drag and Drop events, which allows remote user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via a link to an SMB file share with a filename that contains encoded ..\ (%2e%2e%5c) sequences and whose extension contains the CLSID Key identifier for HTML Applications (HTA), aka "Folder GUID Code Execution Vulnerability." NOTE: directory traversal sequences were used in the original exploit, although their role is not clear.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2006-3281?
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 does not properly handle Drag and Drop events, which allows remote user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via a link to an SMB file share with a filename that contains encoded ..\ (%2e%2e%5c) sequences and whose extension contains the CLSID Key identifier for HTML Applications (HTA), aka "Folder GUID Code Execution Vulnerability." NOTE: directory traversal sequences were used in the original exploit, although their role is not clear.
How severe is CVE-2006-3281?
CVE-2006-3281 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.1, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2006-3281 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 48% (99th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2006-3281?
CVE-2006-3281 affects Microsoft Internet Explorer. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2006-3281?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2006-3281 published?
CVE-2006-3281 was published on 2006-06-28 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (1)

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