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Foxit PDF Reader EUVDEUVD-2026-85121

| CVE-2026-91801 HIGH
Path Traversal (CWE-22)
2026-09-23 Foxit GHSA-7ww4-96v9-fhwm
7.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: Foxit
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Craft PDF with traversal in embedded resource paths
  2. Delivery
    Deliver document to victim (email/download)
  3. Exploit
    Victim opens PDF in Foxit
  4. Execution
    Resource written outside intended directory
  5. Impact
    Achieve arbitrary code execution in user context

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection

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

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires the victim to open (or preview) an attacker-crafted PDF containing embedded resources with maliciously-constructed file paths in Foxit PDF Editor or Reader; the traversal occurs during the application's handling of these embedded PDF resources. This is a local attack vector with no authentication required (PR:N) but mandatory user interaction (UI:R) - the single greatest limiting factor, as the attacker cannot trigger it without the user opening the document. There is no network-facing or default-service exposure; risk is bounded to users who process untrusted PDFs. Escalation to code execution is described as conditional, so real-world impact may be limited to an arbitrary file-write primitive unless a viable write target enables execution.

Impact

This is a client-side, file-parsing vulnerability rather than a remotely-reachable server flaw. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H = 7.8) correctly models a local attack vector requiring user interaction: the victim must open a maliciously-crafted PDF in Foxit. PR:N means no authentication is needed, but UI:R (open the document) is the dominant limiting factor. No EPSS score, no CISA KEV listing, and no public POC were provided, so there is no signal of active or automatable exploitation - this reads as a responsibly-disclosed, vendor-reported (Foxit) issue rather than an in-the-wild threat. The RCE outcome is described conditionally ('potentially enabling arbitrary code execution'), so the confirmed primitive is an out-of-intended-location file write (path traversal) that may escalate to code execution; treat the C:H/I:H/A:H as the worst-case ceiling. Net: a genuinely serious desktop RCE candidate given Foxit's large install base, but current exploitation-probability signals are absent/low, making this a patch-on-normal-cycle priority absent evidence of weaponization.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker crafts a PDF whose embedded resource file paths use traversal sequences and delivers it via email, a download link, or a shared drive. When the victim opens or previews the document in Foxit PDF Editor/Reader, the insufficiently-validated resource path causes a file to be written outside its intended directory, which can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution in the user's context. No public exploit code was identified at time of analysis.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Sep 23, 2026

Insufficient validation of embedded-resource file paths in Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader (CVE-2026-91801) lets an attacker embed traversal sequences in a PDF so that files are written outside their intended location when the document is opened or previewed, with a conditional path from that arbitrary-file-write primitive to code execution. Rated 7.8 (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), the issue is a client-side parsing flaw: no authentication is required, but user interaction is mandatory and there is no network-facing or default-service exposure, so risk is bounded to users who process untrusted PDFs. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and escalation to code execution remains conditional on a viable write target.

RemediationAI

No exact fixed build is specified in the available data, so the primary action is to consult Foxit's security bulletins page (https://www.foxit.com/support/security-bulletins.html), identify the release that addresses CVE-2026-91801, and upgrade both Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader to that version or later - verify the installed build through the application's About dialog and push the update through your normal patching channel. Because exploitation requires the user to open a crafted PDF containing embedded resources, the most effective compensating control is to stop untrusted documents from reaching the application at all: strip or quarantine PDF attachments and downloads at the mail and web gateway, and block embedded-file content where policy allows, accepting that this breaks legitimate workflows that rely on PDF attachments. Where untrusted PDFs must still be processed, run Foxit in a low-privilege, sandboxed context (a dedicated unprivileged account, AppContainer/Windows Sandbox, or a disposable VM) so the traversal write primitive cannot reach sensitive locations; note that this reduces convenience and can interfere with plugins. Additionally, verify that startup folders, application and plugin directories, and DLL search paths are not writable by the account running Foxit, and enable the application's restricted or protected reading mode to limit processing of embedded content - the trade-off being reduced functionality for documents that legitimately use embedded files. There is no evidence that disabling network access to Foxit mitigates the issue, since the vector is local (AV:L) and depends on user interaction (UI:R).

Affected VersionsENISA

Foxit PDF Reader Versions 2026.2 and earlier
Foxit PDF Editor Versions 14.0.7 and earlier
Foxit PDF Editor Versions 2026.2 and earlier
Foxit PDF Editor Versions 13.2.6 and earlier

Affects your stack

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

Root cause is CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), arising in the code path Foxit PDF Editor and Reader use to materialize embedded PDF resources (embedded files/attachments and related resource streams) onto the local filesystem. Because filenames or resource paths taken from the document are not canonicalized or confined to the intended extraction directory, sequences such as '../' allow the write target to escape that directory; the operation runs in the context of the user who opened the document, so any file the user can write becomes reachable. The CVSS vector (AV:L, PR:N, UI:R) confirms this is a local, user-assisted attack rather than a remotely triggered one: the attacker only supplies the malicious PDF and depends on the victim opening or previewing it. CPE data identifies the affected components as cpe:2.3:a:foxit_software_inc.:foxit_pdf_editor:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* and cpe:2.3:a:foxit_software_inc.:foxit_pdf_reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*, i.e., both the Editor and Reader product lines, with no version granularity supplied in the available intelligence. Only the arbitrary-write primitive is directly evidenced; code execution requires an additional condition such as overwriting a file that is later loaded or executed (startup folder, configuration, plugin or DLL search path), which is why the assessment treats RCE as conditional rather than guaranteed.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (Foxit) PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.8 HIGH

AV:L and UI:R because exploitation requires the victim to open a crafted local PDF file; PR:N as no authentication is needed; file-write-to-ACE justifies C/I/A:H as worst case.

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (Foxit).

CVSS VectorVendor: Foxit

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

DescriptionCVE.org

A path traversal vulnerability exists in Foxit PDF Editor/Reader's handling of embedded PDF resources. Insufficient validation of resource file paths may allow files to be written outside their intended locations, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader are affected by a high-severity path traversal vulnerability (CVE-2026-91801) that could allow an attacker to write files outside intended locations when a user opens a malicious PDF, with a conditional pathway to code execution. This impacts any employee who processes untrusted PDF documents, potentially leading to data compromise, system instability, or unauthorized code execution on their workstation. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and no vendor patch is currently available, so leadership should prioritize risk mitigation through user education, alternative document handling, and heightened monitoring.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: avoid opening untrusted PDFs, disable PDF preview handlers, use alternative PDF viewers for untrusted documents, enforce least privilege, and monitor for unusual file writes or process creation.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 89% exploitable
Prevalence
High
Foxit PDF Reader/Editor is a widely deployed enterprise and consumer PDF client
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

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 HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.2%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
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
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

39
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +39
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

CVE-2026-91814 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Sep 23

Content spoofing in Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader allows remote attackers to alter visible content in incrementa

CVE-2026-91800 HIGH
8.8 Sep 23

Local privilege escalation in Foxit PDF Editor for macOS allows an attacker with a low-privilege foothold to execute arb

CVE-2026-91798 HIGH
8.8 Sep 23

A local privilege escalation vulnerability in the auto-update daemon shipped with Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader

CVE-2026-91812 HIGH
8.1 Sep 23

Man-in-the-middle attackers occupying the network path of Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader software-update traffic

CVE-2026-91797 HIGH
7.8 Sep 23

Path traversal in the attachment-handling logic of Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader lets a crafted PDF write an emb

CVE-2026-91794 HIGH
7.8 Sep 23

An out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) in the PDF rendering engine of Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader can be triggered w

CVE-2026-91789 HIGH
7.8 Sep 23

Out-of-bounds write in the U3D/GIF texture decoding path of Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader allows a crafted PDF t

CVE-2026-91791 HIGH
7.8 Sep 23

Foxit PDF Editor and Reader can crash due to a use-after-free (CWE-416) when a user opens a specially crafted PDF that i

CVE-2026-91799 HIGH
7.8 Sep 23

Use-after-free in Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader (CWE-416) lets a specially crafted PDF trigger memory corruption

CVE-2026-91815 HIGH
7.8 Sep 23

Heap-based out-of-bounds write in Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader occurs when the products decode JPEG2000 image d

CVE-2026-91790 HIGH
7.8 Sep 23

A use-after-free in Foxit PDF Editor and Foxit PDF Reader can be triggered by opening a crafted PDF whose image objects

CVE-2026-91792 HIGH
7.8 Sep 23

Specially crafted PDFs can trigger a use-after-free in Foxit PDF Reader and Editor when JavaScript is enabled, leading t

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