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Foxit Reader CVE-2021-38568

CRITICAL
Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787)
2021-08-11 cve@mitre.org
9.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Bounds checking, write limits
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could write data beyond allocated buffer boundaries leading to code execution or crashes by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
Patch available 1.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 10.1.4. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability could allow attackers to write data beyond allocated buffer boundaries leading to code execution or crashes.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Validate write boundaries, use memory-safe languages, enable compiler protections (ASLR, stack canaries).

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787), which allows attackers to write data beyond allocated buffer boundaries leading to code execution or crashes. An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 10.1.4. It allows memory corruption during conversion of a PDF document to a different document format. Affected products include: Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader, Foxitsoftware Phantompdf. Version information: before 10.1.4..

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.8 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 10.1.4. It allows memory corruption during conversion of a PDF document to a different document format.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
1.1%
Top 39% exploitable
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 1.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

50
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +49
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.

Memory corruption occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions or accesses memory in unintended ways, violating the integrity of the process's address space.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:foxit_reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:phantompdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2015-2790 MEDIUM POC
4.3 Mar 30

Foxit Reader, Enterprise Reader, and PhantomPDF before 7.1 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory c

CVE-2018-9958 HIGH POC
8.8 May 17

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1

CVE-2017-10952 HIGH POC
8.8 Aug 29

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 8.2.0.2

CVE-2018-9948 MEDIUM POC
6.5 May 17

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive information on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader

CVE-2023-40194 HIGH POC
8.8 Nov 27

An arbitrary file creation vulnerability exists in the Javascript exportDataObject API of Foxit Reader 12.1.3.15356 due

CVE-2023-39542 HIGH POC
8.8 Nov 27

A code execution vulnerability exists in the Javascript saveAs API of Foxit Reader 12.1.3.15356. Rated high severity (CV

CVE-2023-38573 HIGH POC
8.8 Nov 27

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in the way Foxit Reader 12.1.2.15356 handles a signature field. Rated high severit

CVE-2023-35985 HIGH POC
8.8 Nov 27

An arbitrary file creation vulnerability exists in the Javascript exportDataObject API of Foxit Reader 12.1.3.15356 due

CVE-2023-32616 HIGH POC
8.8 Nov 27

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in the way Foxit Reader 12.1.2.15356 handles 3D annotations. Rated high severity (

CVE-2021-21822 HIGH POC
8.8 May 10

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in the JavaScript engine of Foxit Software’s PDF Reader, version 10.1.3.37598. Rat

CVE-2020-13547 HIGH POC
8.8 Dec 22

A type confusion vulnerability exists in the JavaScript engine of Foxit Software’s Foxit PDF Reader, version 10.1.0.3752

CVE-2020-13570 HIGH POC
8.8 Dec 22

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in the JavaScript engine of Foxit Software’s PDF Reader, version 10.1.0.37527. Rat

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