# CVE-2008-5036: Memory corruption in n/a

> A stack-based buffer overflow in VLC media player allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malicious RealText subtitle file.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 10 Nov 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2008-5036, GHSA-qr75-p27m-crxr

## What is CVE-2008-5036?

CVE-2008-5036 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Videolan Vlc Media Player, published on 10 Nov 2008. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Stack-based buffer overflow in VideoLAN VLC media player 0.9.x before 0.9.6 might allow user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via an an invalid RealText (rt) subtitle file, related to the ParseRealText function in modules/demux/subtitle.c.  NOTE: this issue was SPLIT from CVE-2008-5032 on 20081110.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-5036?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Videolan Vlc Media Player.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-5036?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2008-5036 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-5036 exists.

Public exploit code:

- VLC Media Player RealText Subtitle Overflow (metasploit)
- VideoLAN VLC Media Player < 0.9.6 - '.rt' Local Stack Buffer Overflow (exploitdb)
- VideoLAN VLC Media Player 0.9.5 - RealText Subtitle Overflow (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Videolan Vlc Media Player

- [CVE-2008-0296](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-0296/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-47359](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-47359/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-12874](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12874/): Use after free in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-10699](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-10699/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2013-1868](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-1868/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-5036 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-5036 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Videolan Vlc Media Player, published on 10 Nov 2008. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-5036 exists.

Affected product: Videolan Vlc Media Player. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5036/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5036/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-5036
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5036
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-5036

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5036/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.