AOL Desktop 9.6 RTX Stack-Based Buffer Overflow
Published Aug 20, 2025
8.4
HIGHCVSS 4.0
EPSS 0.51%
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.
Affected products
-
- Version 0StatusaffectedConstraints<=9.6
- Version
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOL Inc. | AOL Desktop | unaffected |
|
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 20, 2025 · SSVC 2.0.3
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2025–2026- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (7 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.51% (0.00510) | 41.31th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.48% (0.00476) | 37.18th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| May 6, 2026 | 23.08% (0.23078) | 95.95th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 16, 2026 | 20.56% (0.20562) | 95.39th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 20, 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 21, 2025 | 0.08% (0.00083) | 24.91th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
References (6)
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/aol_desktop_linktag.rb exploit
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16085 exploit
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16107 exploit
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/17150 exploit
- https://www.fortiguard.com/encyclopedia/ips/26516 third-party-advisory
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/aol-desktop-rtx-stack-based-buffer-overflow third-party-advisory
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.