CVE-2011-10027

CVE-2011-10027 is a high-severity vulnerability with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.4. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-121.

Key facts

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2011-10027?
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.
How severe is CVE-2011-10027?
CVE-2011-10027 has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.4, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2011-10027 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How do I fix CVE-2011-10027?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2011-10027 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2011-10027 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2011-5259.
When was CVE-2011-10027 published?
CVE-2011-10027 was published on 2025-08-20 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Other CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow) vulnerabilities

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