CVE-2011-0522

CVE-2011-0522 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Videolan Vlc Media Player with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 52% places it in the 99th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 6.8)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 52% (99th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-119
• Affected product: Videolan Vlc Media Player
• Published: 2011-02-07
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The StripTags function in (1) the USF decoder (modules/codec/subtitles/subsdec.c) and (2) the Text decoder (modules/codec/subtitles/subsusf.c) in VideoLAN VLC Media Player 1.1 before 1.1.6-rc allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a subtitle with an opening "<" without a closing ">" in an MKV file, which triggers heap memory corruption, as demonstrated using refined-australia-blu720p-sample.mkv.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2011-0522?

The StripTags function in (1) the USF decoder (modules/codec/subtitles/subsdec.c) and (2) the Text decoder (modules/codec/subtitles/subsusf.c) in VideoLAN VLC Media Player 1.1 before 1.1.6-rc allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a subtitle with an opening "<" without a closing ">" in an MKV file, which triggers heap memory corruption, as demonstrated using refined-australia-blu720p-sample.mkv.

How severe is CVE-2011-0522?

CVE-2011-0522 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2011-0522 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 52% (99th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2011-0522?

CVE-2011-0522 primarily affects Videolan Vlc Media Player. In total, 7 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2011-0522?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2011-0522 published?

CVE-2011-0522 was published on 2011-02-07 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://git.videolan.org/gitweb.cgi?p=vlc/vlc-1.1.git%3Ba=tag%3Bh=bb16813ddb61a53113c71bccc525559405785452
• http://mailman.videolan.org/pipermail/vlc-devel/2011-January/078607.html
• http://mailman.videolan.org/pipermail/vlc-devel/2011-January/078614.html
• http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8064
• http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16108
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/01/25/7
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/01/25/9
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/46008
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0225
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/65029
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A12414

Affected products (7)

• cpe:2.3:a:videolan:vlc_media_player:1.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:videolan:vlc_media_player:1.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:videolan:vlc_media_player:1.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:videolan:vlc_media_player:1.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:videolan:vlc_media_player:1.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:videolan:vlc_media_player:1.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:videolan:vlc_media_player:1.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Videolan Vlc Media Player

• CVE-2008-0296 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Heap-based buffer overflow in the libaccess_realrtsp plugin in VideoLAN VLC Media Player 0.8.6d and earlier on Windows…
• CVE-2023-47359 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Videolan VLC prior to version 3.0.20 contains an incorrect offset read that leads to a Heap-Based Buffer Overflow in…
• CVE-2019-13962 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): lavc_CopyPicture in modules/codec/avcodec/video.c in VideoLAN VLC media player through 3.0.7 has a heap-based buffer…
• CVE-2019-12874 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in zlib_decompress_extra in modules/demux/mkv/util.cpp in VideoLAN VLC media player 3.x through…
• CVE-2017-10699 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): avcodec 2.2.x, as used in VideoLAN VLC media player 2.2.7-x before 2017-06-29, allows out-of-bounds heap memory write…
• CVE-2016-5108 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Buffer overflow in the DecodeAdpcmImaQT function in modules/codec/adpcm.c in VideoLAN VLC media player before 2.2.4…

All CVEs affecting Videolan Vlc Media Player →

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Browse all CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) vulnerabilities →