CVE-2023-38112: Foxit PDF Reader XFA Annotation Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Severity: high (CVSS 7.8 v3.0)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.5% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2024-05-03 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-416

Description

Foxit PDF Reader XFA Annotation Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Foxit PDF Reader. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of Annotation objects. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing operations on the object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-21062.

Affected products

Foxit PDF Reader: through 10.1.12.37872; from 11.0.0 through 11.2.6.53790; from 12.0.0 through 12.1.2.15332; before 11.1.4.1121; from 12.0.0.0601 before 12.1.0.1229 — fixed in 11.1.4.1121, 12.1.0.1229
Foxit Pdf Reader: through 12.1.2.15332; before 12.1.0.1229 — fixed in 12.1.0.1229

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Foxit PDF Reader 11.1.4.1121, 12.1.0.1229; Foxit Pdf Reader 12.1.0.1229. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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