CVE-2011-0522

VLC Media Player - Remote Code Execution via Malformed Subtitle Tag in MKV File

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2011-0522. PoCs published by Harry Sintonen.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a heap-based memory corruption vulnerability in VLC media player by crafting a malicious MKV file with manipulated subtitles. The PoC provides commands to create a corrupted file and trigger the vulnerability, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial-of-service.

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.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by Harry Sintonen · textdosmultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16108

This exploit leverages a heap-based memory corruption vulnerability in VLC media player by crafting a malicious MKV file with manipulated subtitles. The PoC provides commands to create a corrupted file and trigger the vulnerability, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial-of-service.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Racy
Target: VLC media player (versions affected by CVE-2011-0522)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: VLC media player installed · User interaction to open the malicious file
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (11)

Core 11
Core References
Exploit vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/46008
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/65029
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A12414
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_sreason
http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8064
Patch mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/01/25/9
Exploit exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16108
Patch mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/01/25/7
Various Sources mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://mailman.videolan.org/pipermail/vlc-devel/2011-January/078614.html
Vendor Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0225

Scores

EPSS 0.5167
EPSS Percentile 98.8%

Details

CWE
CWE-119
Status published
Products (7)
videolan/vlc_media_player 1.1.0
videolan/vlc_media_player 1.1.1
videolan/vlc_media_player 1.1.2
videolan/vlc_media_player 1.1.3
videolan/vlc_media_player 1.1.4
videolan/vlc_media_player 1.1.5
videolan/vlc_media_player 1.1.6
Published Feb 07, 2011
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026