Security Digest · Vulnerability record · Known exploited

CVE-2008-0015: Microsoft Windows Video ActiveX Control Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Stack-based buffer overflow in the CComVariant::ReadFromStream function in the Active Template Library (ATL), as used in the MPEG2TuneRequest ActiveX control in msvidctl.dll in DirectShow, in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2, and…

CISA KEV · added 2026-02-17 CVSS 8.8 High EPSS 76.6% · p99.5

Should you act?

Exploited: patch now if you run it

CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

  • Yes, if you run Microsoft Windows. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-02-17, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2026-03-10; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
  • EPSS 76.6%, percentile 99.5: FIRST’s model estimates a 76.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99.5% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
  • Needs a user to click or open something. Phishing makes that realistic, but it is not wormable.

What it is

Stack-based buffer overflow in the CComVariant::ReadFromStream function in the Active Template Library (ATL), as used in the MPEG2TuneRequest ActiveX control in msvidctl.dll in DirectShow, in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2, and Server 2008 Gold and SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web page, as exploited in the wild in July 2009, aka "Microsoft Video ActiveX Control Vulnerability."

CISA’s summary

Microsoft Windows Video ActiveX Control contains a remote code execution vulnerability. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially crafted Web page. When a user views the Web page, the vulnerability could allow remote code execution. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the logged-on user.

Weakness type: CWE-121.

Product: Microsoft Windows · Assigned by: mitre · Published: 2009-07-07

Affected and fixed versions

VendorProductAffected versions (per CVE record)
n/an/asee vendor advisory

Severity scores

Scored byCVSSScoreVector
CISA-ADP3.18.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
  • Attack complexity: low
  • Privileges required: none (no login)
  • User interaction: required (a user must click/open something)
  • Scope: unchanged

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

  • CISA KEV: added 2026-02-17; federal due date 2026-03-10. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
  • CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
  • CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total.
  • FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 76.58% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.5.

Timeline

  • — CVE record published by mitre
  • — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
  • — CVE record last updated
  • — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vendor and project advisories, patches

  1. MS09-032 docs.microsoft.com
  2. MS09-037 docs.microsoft.com
  3. Listed in CISA KEV notes (web.archive.org) web.archive.org

Vulnerability records

  1. CVE.org record CVE-2008-0015 cve.org
  2. NVD entry CVE-2008-0015 nvd.nist.gov

Government

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry cisa.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

  1. 35558 securityfocus.com
  2. TA09-223A us-cert.gov
  3. blogs.technet.com blogs.technet.com
  4. 55651 osvdb.org
  5. oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6333 oval.cisecurity.org
  6. 35585 securityfocus.com
  7. 36187 secunia.com
  8. oval:org.mitre.oval:def:7436 oval.cisecurity.org
  9. ADV-2009-2232 vupen.com
  10. 1022514 securitytracker.com
  11. csis.dk csis.dk
  12. isc.sans.org isc.sans.org
  13. TA09-187A us-cert.gov
  14. microsoft.com microsoft.com
  15. TA09-195A us-cert.gov
  16. 20090706 Multiple Microsoft Video Control ActiveX Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities iss.net
  17. oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6363 oval.cisecurity.org
  18. VU#180513 kb.cert.org

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