An exploitable use-after-free vulnerability exists in the JavaScript engine of Foxit…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
An exploitable use-after-free vulnerability exists in the JavaScript engine of Foxit Reader before 9.3 and PhantomPDF before 9.3, a different vulnerability than CVE-2018-16291, CVE-2018-16292, CVE-2018-16293, CVE-2018-16294, CVE-2018-16295, and CVE-2018-16297. A specially crafted PDF document can trigger a previously freed object in memory to be reused, resulting in arbitrary code execution. An attacker needs to trick the user to open the malicious file to trigger this vulnerability. If the browser plugin extension is enabled, visiting a malicious site can also trigger the vulnerability.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 3
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:phantompdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 9.2.0.9297 | Vulnerable | Foxitsoftware |
| cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 9.2.0.9297 | Vulnerable | Foxitsoftware |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:phantompdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 9.2.0.9297 Vulnerable ·Foxitsoftware
- cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 9.2.0.9297 Vulnerable ·Foxitsoftware
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Microsoft
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-16296
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-r3q4-h9cx-8phg
References
More Foxitsoftware Phantompdf vulnerabilities
- TI-2018-07063 Use after free in Foxit Reader CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.8
- TI-2018-02892 Use after free in Foxit CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.8
- TI-2018-07053 Information disclosure in Foxit Reader CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2018-02924 Out-of-bounds read in Foxit CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.1
- TI-2020-07098 Integer overflow in Foxit Reader CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2020-07110 Use after free in Foxit PhantomPDF CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
Sources
- CVE-2018-16296 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-16296 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-r3q4-h9cx-8phg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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