Use after free in Foxit Reader
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 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Foxit Reader 9.7.0.29455. 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 parsing of form Annotation objects within AcroForms. 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-9862.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foxit | Reader | 9.7.0.29455 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Reader VendorFoxit Affected 9.7.0.29455 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 3
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 9.7.0.29478 | Vulnerable | Foxitsoftware |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:phantompdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 9.7.0.29455 | Vulnerable | Foxitsoftware |
- cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 9.7.0.29478 Vulnerable ·Foxitsoftware
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:phantompdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 9.7.0.29455 Vulnerable ·Foxitsoftware
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-8857
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-54cq-p5rp-9fcp
References
More Foxit vulnerabilities
- TI-2013-06208 Foxit Reader <= 5.4.5.0114 Plugin URL Processing Buffer Overflow CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.4
- TI-2009-00795 Stack-based buffer overflow in Foxit Reader 3.0 before Build 1506, including 1120 and… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2021-13823 Use after free in Foxit PDF Reader CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2025-23518 A memory corruption vulnerability exists in Foxit Reader 2025.1.0.27937 due to the use of… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2024-33074 Use after free in Foxit Reader CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2024-32078 Use after free in Foxit Reader CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2020-8857 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-8857 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-54cq-p5rp-9fcp · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences