CVE-2011-10027
AOL Desktop 9.6 RTX Stack-Based Buffer Overflow
- Published
- Updated
- Reserved
- Assigned by
- VulnCheck
Description
AOL Desktop 9.6 contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in its Tool\rich.rct component when parsing .rtx files. By embedding an overly long string in a hyperlink tag, an attacker can trigger a stack-based buffer overflow due to the use of unsafe strcpy operations. This allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code when a victim opens a malicious .rtx file. AOL Desktop is end-of-life and no longer supported. Users are encouraged to migrate to AOL Desktop Gold or alternative platforms.
Public exploit
4 references of the record are tagged as an exploit or proof of concept: anyone can try it against an unpatched system. CISA's SSVC rates its exploitation: a proof of concept is public.
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/aol_desktop_linktag.rb (opens in a new tab)exploit
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16085 (opens in a new tab)exploit
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16107 (opens in a new tab)exploit
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/17150 (opens in a new tab)exploit
Timeline
ID reserved
By VulnCheck
- 2 days later
· 2 days later
Published
- 9 months later
· 9 months later
Record updated
Changes after publication (a new score, a public exploit, EPSS crossing 1, 10 or 50 %, leaving KEV) are kept since November 2026; earlier ones are not known.
Scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| VulnCheckCNA (assigner) | 4.0 | High8.4 | CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |
| NVDNVD · Deferred | 4.0 | High8.4 | CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X |
- EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)
- 0.58% · top 52% of all CVEs (8 Nov 2026)
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation: poc · Automatable: no · Technical impact: total
The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: High 8.4.
Weakness
Affected products
- affected ≤ 9.6
References (6)
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/aol_desktop_linktag.rb (opens in a new tab)exploit
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16085 (opens in a new tab)exploit
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16107 (opens in a new tab)exploit
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/17150 (opens in a new tab)exploit
- https://www.fortiguard.com/encyclopedia/ips/26516 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisory
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/aol-desktop-rtx-stack-based-buffer-overflow (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisory
Sources
The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.
- CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
- CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
- NVD (opens in a new tab)
- FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
- OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
- GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
- CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)
Badge for a README or a ticket
[](https://cveledger.app/cve/CVE-2011-10027)Record last updated .