What might be the problem: the battery or the flashlight?

I bought a low quality LED flashlight. Put in 3 AA Memorex alkaline
batteries. After about an hour later, I picked up the flashlight and
its handle was HOT. The flashlight wasn't on. Took the batteries out, 2
of them are not hot and the last one was. (The middle one was a bit
warm, actually, due to contact with the third).

My question is, based on the limited info above, can you tell whether
the battery was defective or the flashlight? I guess it most likely be
the battery, but is it possible for a defective flashlight to create
this condition? If so, how.

Thanks.

.

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