CVE-2011-10027Public exploit

Arbitrary code execution via unbounded hyperlink copy

Published Aug 20, 2025 · Updated May 15, 2026

Stack-based buffer overflow in AOL Desktop 9.6 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .rtx file. The Tool\rich.rct parser passes an overlong hyperlink-tag value to strcpy without enforcing the destination buffer's bounds, overwriting stack memory. Execution requires a user to open the malicious file, and successful exploitation runs code in the affected application's context.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.51%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack-based buffer overflow in AOL Desktop 9.6 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .rtx file. The Tool\rich.rct parser passes an overlong hyperlink-tag value to strcpy without enforcing the destination buffer's bounds, overwriting stack memory. Execution requires a user to open the malicious file, and successful exploitation runs code in the affected application's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2011-10027
Published
Aug 20, 2025
Updated
May 15, 2026
Vendor
AOL
Product
AOL Desktop
Classifications
CWE-121, CAPEC-100, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 20, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 15, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=9.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

AOL · AOL Desktopversion=0 <=9.6

Published CVSS scores

8.4VulnCheck CNACVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-121Stack-based Buffer Overflow
CAPEC-100Overflow Buffers
T1204.002Malicious File
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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