Foxit Reader 2.3 before Build 3902 and 3.0 before Build 1506, including 1120 and 1301, does not require user confirmation before performing
Foxit Reader 2.3 before Build 3902 and 3.0 before Build 1506, including 1120 and 1301, does not require user confirmation before performing dangerous actions defined in a PDF file, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary programs and have unspecified other impact via a crafted file, as demonstrated by the "Open/Execute a file" action.
- Published
- Mar 10, 2009
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 40.9% · 99th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
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Report tools
Action score
52
Plan
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 40 / 40 · 10.0 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 12 / 30 · 40.9%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| foxitsoftware | reader | cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:reader |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- foxitsoftware reader2.3
- foxitsoftware reader3.0
Same product
foxitsoftware: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2020-8844This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Foxit Reader 9.6.0.25114.38Monitor
- CVE-2020-8856This vulnerability allows remote atackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Foxit PhantomPDF 9.6.0.25608.37Monitor
- CVE-2020-8846This vulnerability allows remote atackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Foxit PhantomPDF 9.6.0.25114.37Monitor
- CVE-2020-8845This vulnerability allows remote atackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Foxit PhantomPDF 9.6.0.25114.37Monitor
- CVE-2018-17621This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.0.1.5096.36Monitor
- CVE-2018-17619This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.0.1.5096.36Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
No fix version is recorded for this entry. Check the references for vendor advisories.
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit module | auxiliary/pdf/foxit/authbypassFoxit Reader Authorization Bypassauxiliary | 2009-03-09 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Metasploit-2 d
- Published
- TodaySep 30, 2026+6413 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- C · data can be read
- Integrity
- C · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- C · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Confidentiality impact
- C
- Integrity impact
- C
- Availability impact
- C
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Overflow BuffersCAPEC-100likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer ManipulationCAPEC-123likelihood: High · Very High
- Client-side Injection-induced Buffer OverflowCAPEC-14likelihood: Medium · High
- Filter Failure through Buffer OverflowCAPEC-24likelihood: High · High
- MIME ConversionCAPEC-42likelihood: High · High
- Overflow Binary Resource FileCAPEC-44likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
No changes recorded on tracked fields yet. Score, KEV, exploit maturity and fix status changes appear here.
References
- blog.zoller.lu/2009/03/remote-code-execution-in-pdf-still.html
- lists.immunitysec.com/pipermail/dailydave/2010-April/006079.html
- secunia.com/advisories/34036
- www.coresecurity.com/content/foxit-reader-vulnerabilities
- www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/security.htm#bypass
- www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/501623/100/0/threaded
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/34035
- www.securitytracker.com/id?1021824
- www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0634
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.