AOL <= 9.5 Phobos.Playlist 'Import()' Stack-Based Buffer Overflow
Published Aug 21, 2025
8.4
HIGHCVSS 4.0
EPSS 0.53%
Description
AOL versions up to and including 9.5 includes an ActiveX control (Phobos.dll) that exposes a method called Import() via the Phobos.Playlist COM object. This method is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow when provided with an excessively long string argument. Exploitation allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the user, but only when the malicious HTML file is opened locally, due to the control not being marked safe for scripting or initialization. AOL remains an active and supported brand offering services like AOL Mail and AOL Desktop Gold, but the legacy AOL 9.5 desktop software—specifically the version containing the vulnerable Phobos.dll ActiveX control—is long discontinued and no longer maintained.
Affected products
-
- Version 0StatusaffectedConstraints<=9.5 (Revision 4337.155)
- Version
No data.
No data.
No Red Hat product state for this CVE.
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
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
1 other source (NVD) ▾
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
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v2.0 score for this CVE.
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
CISA SSVC (Vulnrichment)
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization from CISA ADP.
Exploitation
PoCAutomatable
NoTechnical Impact
TotalDecision
n/aAssessed Aug 22, 2025 · SSVC 2.0.3
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 3, 2026.
Score over time
2025–2026- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (8 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 2026 | 0.53% (0.00525) | 42.50th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.49% (0.00486) | 37.80th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| May 22, 2026 | 25.35% (0.25352) | 96.28th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 7, 2026 | 23.08% (0.23078) | 95.96th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 20.56% (0.20562) | 95.39th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 21, 2025 | 27.95% (0.27949) | 96.29th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Oct 8, 2025 | 22.68% (0.22681) | 95.58th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 22, 2025 | 0.11% (0.00112) | 30.48th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
References (9)
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/11190 exploit
- https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=20354 product
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/aol_phobos_bof.rb exploit
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100804162117/http://www.rec-sec.com/2010/01/25/aol-playlist-class-buffer-overflow/ technical-descriptionexploit
- https://www.broadcom.com/support/security-center/attacksignatures/detail?asid=26569 third-party-advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/11190 exploit
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/11204 exploit
- https://www.fortiguard.com/encyclopedia/ips/32026/aol-phobos-dll-activex-control-import-buffer-overflow third-party-advisory
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/aol-phobos-playlist-import-stack-based-buffer-overflow third-party-advisory
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.