---
title: "CVE-2009-3050\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2009-3050?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2009-3050

Publication date 2 September 2009

Last updated 24 July 2024

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

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## 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.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2009-3050?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| htmldoc | 11.04 natty | Not affected |
| 10.10 maverick | Not affected |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected |
| 9.10 karmic | Ignored end of life |
| 9.04 jaunty | Ignored end of life |
| 8.10 intrepid | Ignored end of life, was needed |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Ignored end of life |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Ignored end of life |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2009-3050?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [mdeslaur](https://launchpad.net/~mdeslaur)

PoC: http://packetstormsecurity.org/0907-exploits/htmldoc-overflow.txt
other PoC: http://milw0rm.com/exploits/9190
stack smashing is detected by hardy+, so setting priority to low

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| htmldoc | * Vendor:   <https://bugs.gentoo.org/attachment.cgi?id=199846> * Vendor:   <http://cvs.fedoraproject.org/viewvc/devel/htmldoc/htmldoc-1.8.27-scanf-overflows.patch?revision=1.1&view=markup> |

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2009-3050)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-3050)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2009-3050)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2009-3050)

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-3050>