CVE-2009-1537

CVE-2009-1537 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Directx with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming it has been exploited in the wild (added 2026-05-20). The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-158.

Key facts

Description

Unspecified vulnerability in the QuickTime Movie Parser Filter in quartz.dll in DirectShow in Microsoft DirectX 7.0 through 9.0c on Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2 and SP3, and Windows Server 2003 SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted QuickTime media file, as exploited in the wild in May 2009, aka "DirectX NULL Byte Overwrite Vulnerability."

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-1537?
Unspecified vulnerability in the QuickTime Movie Parser Filter in quartz.dll in DirectShow in Microsoft DirectX 7.0 through 9.0c on Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2 and SP3, and Windows Server 2003 SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted QuickTime media file, as exploited in the wild in May 2009, aka "DirectX NULL Byte Overwrite Vulnerability."
How severe is CVE-2009-1537?
CVE-2009-1537 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2009-1537 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2009-1537 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2026-05-20, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.
What products are affected by CVE-2009-1537?
CVE-2009-1537 primarily affects Microsoft Directx. In total, 17 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2009-1537?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Because this CVE is known to be actively exploited, treat remediation as urgent — CISA KEV typically sets a short remediation deadline.
Does CVE-2009-1537 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2009-1537 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2009-1533. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2026-05-20).
When was CVE-2009-1537 published?
CVE-2009-1537 was published on 2009-05-29 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (17)

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