CVE-2009-3709 in Alleycode HTML Editor
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the Meta Content Optimizer in Konae Technologies Alleycode HTML Editor 2.21 allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long value in a TITLE tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3709 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the Meta Content Optimizer component of Konae Technologies Alleycode HTML Editor version 2.21. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the program stack. The flaw manifests when the application processes HTML content containing a specially crafted TITLE tag with an excessively long value, creating a scenario where the buffer allocated for storing the title metadata can be exceeded.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation within the Meta Content Optimizer module, which is designed to parse and process HTML metadata elements. When the application encounters a TITLE tag with a value exceeding the predetermined buffer size, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting the stack frame and overwriting return addresses or other critical program variables. This memory corruption creates an exploitable condition that enables remote attackers to manipulate the program execution flow and inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the affected application process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a user-assisted remote code execution vector that can be leveraged in various attack scenarios. The vulnerability requires a user to interact with malicious content, typically through web-based delivery methods, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users regularly process untrusted HTML content. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or HTML documents containing oversized TITLE tags that, when processed by the vulnerable Alleycode editor, trigger the buffer overflow condition and allow for arbitrary code execution on the target system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through the manipulation of memory structures and stack corruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3709 should focus on immediate patching of the affected software, as Konae Technologies has released updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also implement input validation controls at multiple layers, including web application firewalls and content filtering systems that can detect and block oversized HTML metadata elements before they reach the vulnerable application. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar buffer overflow conditions in other applications. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that emphasize proper bounds checking and input validation, particularly when handling user-supplied data in memory-intensive operations, to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software versions.