Description
VLC before 0.8.6f allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted Cinepak file that triggers an out-of-bounds array access and memory corruption.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | vlc | 0.8.6.e-2.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | vlc | 0.8.6.e-2.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | vlc | 0.8.6.e-2.1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | vlc | 0.8.6.c-6+lenny4 | DTSA-125-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | vlc | 0.8.6-svn20061012.debian-5.1+etch3 | DSA-1819-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Kantaris 0.3.4 - SSA Subtitle Local Buffer Overflow EDB-5498 · local · Apr 25, 2008 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- DSA-1819-1 vlc - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DTSA-125-1 vlc - multiple vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://www.videolan.org/security/sa0803.php
- http://git.videolan.org/gitweb.cgi/vlc.git/?a=commit%3Bh=cf489d7bff3c1b36b2d5501ecf21129c78104d98
- http://www.videolan.org/developers/vlc/NEWS
- GLSA-200804-25 vendor-advisory
- http://wiki.videolan.org/Changelog/0.8.6f
- 28904 vdb-entry
- 29800 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:14445 vdb-entry signature
- 29503 third-party-advisory
- http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=214627#c3
- ADV-2008-0985 vdb-entry