AOL <= 9.5 Phobos.Playlist 'Import()' Stack-Based Buffer Overflow
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Active
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-121 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
AOL versions up to and including 9.5 includes an ActiveX control (Phobos.dll) that exposes a method called Import() via the Phobos.Playlist COM object. This method is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow when provided with an excessively long string argument. Exploitation allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the user, but only when the malicious HTML file is opened locally, due to the control not being marked safe for scripting or initialization. AOL remains an active and supported brand offering services like AOL Mail and AOL Desktop Gold, but the legacy AOL 9.5 desktop software—specifically the version containing the vulnerable Phobos.dll ActiveX control—is long discontinued and no longer maintained.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2010-10015
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mgmx-v8vm-g2vc
References
Exploit 4
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100804162117/http://www.rec-sec.com/2010/01/25/aol-playlist-class-buffer-overflow/
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/aol_phobos_bof.rb
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/11204
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/11190
Advisory 2
More AOL vulnerabilities
- TI-2004-00577 Buffer overflow in the goaway function in the aim:goaway URI handler for AOL Instant… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2011-04630 AOL Desktop 9.6 RTX Stack-Based Buffer Overflow CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.4
- TI-2006-05454 The ICQPhone.SipxPhoneManager ActiveX control in America Online ICQ 5.1 allows remote… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2007-05963 Stack-based buffer overflow in AOL AOLMediaPlaybackControl (AOLMediaPlaybackControl.exe)… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
- TI-2002-00005 Buffer overflow in AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) 4.7.2480, 4.8.2616, and other versions… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2001-01022 Buffer overflow in AOLserver 3.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2010-10015 · CVE Program
- CVE-2010-10015 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mgmx-v8vm-g2vc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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