CVE-2011-10027

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.

CVSS v4.0

8.4 HIGHCVSS: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

0.51% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, 41th percentile

Published

2025-08-20

Updated

2026-05-15

Proof-of-concept exploits (3)

• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16085
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16107
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/17150

Metasploit modules (1)

• rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/aol_desktop_l…

References

• CVE Record
• NVD entry

Related

• CVE-2011-10026
• CVE-2011-10028
• CVE-2011-10025
• CVE-2011-10029
• CVE-2011-10024
• CVE-2011-10030