AOL versions up to and including 9.5 includes an ActiveX control (Phobos.dll) that exposes a method called Import() via the Phobos.Playlist COM object. This method is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow when provided with an excessively long string argument. Exploitation allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the user, but only when the malicious HTML file is opened locally, due to the control not being marked safe for scripting or initialization. AOL remains an active and supported brand offering services like AOL Mail and AOL Desktop Gold, but the legacy AOL 9.5 desktop software—specifically the version containing the vulnerable Phobos.dll ActiveX control—is long discontinued and no longer maintained.

The LinkSBIcons method in the SuperBuddy ActiveX control (Sb.SuperBuddy.1) in America Online 9.0 Security Edition dereferences an arbitrary function pointer, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a modified pointer value.

Buffer overflow in the AOL.PicDownloadCtrl.1 ActiveX control (YGPPicDownload.dll) 9.2.3.0 in America Online (AOL) 9.0 Security Edition allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the downloadFileDirectory property, a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-5502.

Heap-based buffer overflow in the AOL.PicDownloadCtrl.1 ActiveX control (YGPPicDownload.dll) 9.2.3.0 in America Online (AOL) 9.0 Security Edition allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the AddPictureNoAlbum method, a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-5501.

AOL 9.0 Security Edition revision 4184.2340, and probably other versions, uses insecure permissions (Everyone/Full Control) for the "America Online 9.0" directory, which allows local users to gain privileges by replacing critical files.