Description
libdirectx_plugin.dll in VideoLAN VLC Media Player before 1.1.8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted width in an AMV file, related to a "dangling pointer vulnerability."
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 | 1.1.8-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | vlc | 1.1.8-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | vlc | 1.1.8-1 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | vlc | 1.1.3-1squeeze4 | DSA-2211-1 |
| Debian 5.0 | vlc | 0.8.6.h-4+lenny3 | DSA-2211-1 |
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.
Metasploit 1 module
-
VLC AMV Dangling Pointer Vulnerability
exploit/windows/browser/vlc_amv
Exploit-DB 1
- VideoLAN VLC Media Player 1.1.4 - 'AMV' Dangling Pointer (Metasploit) EDB-17048 · remote · Mar 26, 2011 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-2211-1 vlc - missing input sanitising Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 1025250 vdb-entry
- ADV-2011-0759 vdb-entry
- http://www.videolan.org/vlc/releases/1.1.8.html
- 43826 third-party-advisory
- http://www.metasploit.com/modules/exploit/windows/browser/vlc_amv
- http://www.coresecurity.com/content/vlc-vulnerabilities-amv-nsv-files
- DSA-2211 vendor-advisory
- 17048 exploit
- 20110323 CORE-2011-0208: VLC Vulnerabilities handling .AMV and .NSV files mailing-list
- 71277 vdb-entry
- vlcmediaplayer-amv-bo(66259) vdb-entry
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:14718 vdb-entry signature
- 8162 third-party-advisory
- 47012 vdb-entry