CVE-2009-1537

KEVMicrosoft DirectX NULL Byte Overwrite Vulnerability

Description

Microsoft DirectX contains a NULL byte overwrite vulnerability in the QuickTime Movie Parser Filter in quartz.dll in DirectShow which could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted QuickTime media file.

Unspecified vulnerability in the QuickTime Movie Parser Filter in quartz.dll in DirectShow in Microsoft DirectX 7.0 through 9.0c on Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2 and SP3, and Windows Server 2003 SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted QuickTime media file, as exploited in the wild in May 2009, aka "DirectX NULL Byte Overwrite Vulnerability."

CVSS 3.1 vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

PublishedMay 29, 2009

Last modifiedJun 16, 2026

Added to KEVMay 20, 2026

Remediation dueJun 3, 2026

References

blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2009/05/28/microsoft-security-advisory-971778-vulnerability-in-microsoft-directshow-released.aspxVendor Advisory
blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2009/05/28/new-vulnerability-in-quicktime-parsing.aspxVendor Advisory
isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=6481Not Applicable
osvdb.org/54797Broken Link
secunia.com/advisories/35268Vendor Advisory
microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/971778.mspxPatchVendor Advisory
securityfocus.com/bid/35139Broken Link
securitytracker.com/id?1022299Broken Link
us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-195A.htmlUS Government Resource
vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1445Vendor Advisory
vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1886Vendor Advisory
docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-028Vendor Advisory

0 recent articles mention this CVE

Risk assessment · High

Actively exploited. Patch immediately.

Exploitation: Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
Federal remediation deadline: Overdue by 146 days
CVSS: 8.8 HIGH
EPSS (30-day exploit probability): 51.4% · top 1% of all CVEs
Weakness: NVD-CWE-noinfo
Attack vector: Network, remotely reachable

Recommended actions

1.Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
3.Review exposure: confirm which instances are reachable from the internet and restrict access until patched.
4.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.

Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.