CVE-2009-1537
HighExploitedPublic exploitUnspecified 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…
Published May 29, 2009 · Updated May 21, 2026
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2009-1537 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 8.8 v3.1) affecting Directx (Microsoft), Windows 2000 (Microsoft), Windows 2003 Server (Microsoft) and 2 more products.
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since May 29, 2009. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 51% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
8.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
51%
Higher than 98.9% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2009-1537 brief as a PDF
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Description
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."
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | May 20, 2026 | Jun 3, 2026 | Not reported |
| Industry KEV feed | May 29, 2009 | Jun 3, 2026 | Not reported |
| CIRCL KEV | May 29, 2009 | Jun 3, 2026 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | May 20, 2026 | n/a | Not reported |
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.
Affected Products
17 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| DirectxMicrosoft | 7.0, 7.0a, 7.1, 8.1, 8.1b, 9.0, 9.0a, 9.0b | n/a |
| Windows 2000Microsoft | See advisory | n/a |
| Windows 2003 ServerMicrosoft | See advisory | n/a |
| Windows Server 2003Microsoft | See advisory | n/a |
| Windows XpMicrosoft | See advisory | n/a |
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
May 29, 2009
Added to Industry KEV feed
May 29, 2009
Added to CIRCL KEV
May 29, 2009
Added to CISA KEV
May 20, 2026
Added to ENISA EUVD
May 20, 2026
Last updated
May 21, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-158 Improper Neutralization of Null Byte or NUL Character
References
- advisoryhttp://blogs.technet.com/msrc/archive/2009/05/28/microsoft-security-advisory-971778-vulnerability-in-microsoft-directshow-released.aspx
- advisoryhttp://blogs.technet.com/srd/archive/2009/05/28/new-vulnerability-in-quicktime-parsing.aspx
- advisoryMS09-028
- advisory35268
- advisoryADV-2009-1445
FAQ
Common Questions.
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…
Affected: Directx (Microsoft) versions 7.0, 7.0a, 7.1, 8.1, 8.1b, 9.0, 9.0a, 9.0b; Windows 2000 (Microsoft); Windows 2003 Server (Microsoft), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since May 29, 2009.
Yes. It was added on May 20, 2026 with a federal remediation due date of Jun 3, 2026.
Public exploit code is available.
No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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