Foxit PDF Editor/Reader Installer Uncontrolled Search Path Privilege Escalation
Priority LOW 35CWE-426Published · Updated
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-426.
Summary
The application's installer runs with elevated privileges but resolves system executables and DLLs using untrusted search paths that can include user-writable directories, allowing a local attacker to place malicious binaries with the same names and have them loaded or executed instead of the legitimate system files, resulting in local privilege escalation.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00126 2nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foxit Software Inc. | Foxit PDF Reader | up to 2025.3 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Foxit Software Inc. | Foxit PDF Editor | up to 2025.3; up to 14.0.2 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Foxit PDF Reader VendorFoxit Software Inc. Affected up to 2025.3 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Foxit PDF Editor VendorFoxit Software Inc. Affected up to 2025.3; up to 14.0.2 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 3
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:foxit:pdf_editor:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 13.2.2.24014; 14.0.0.33046 – 14.0.2.33402; 2023.1.0.15510 – 2023.3.0.23028; 2024.1.0.23997 – 2024.4.1.27687; 2025.1.0.27937 – 2025.3.0.35737 | Vulnerable | Foxit |
| cpe:2.3:a:foxit:pdf_reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2025.3.0.35737 | Vulnerable | Foxit |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:a:foxit:pdf_editor:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 13.2.2.24014; 14.0.0.33046 – 14.0.2.33402; 2023.1.0.15510 – 2023.3.0.23028; 2024.1.0.23997 – 2024.4.1.27687; 2025.1.0.27937 – 2025.3.0.35737 Vulnerable ·Foxit
- cpe:2.3:a:foxit:pdf_reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2025.3.0.35737 Vulnerable ·Foxit
- 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-2026-3780
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jcq9-87h6-4wcr
References
More Foxit Software Inc. vulnerabilities
- TI-2011-04633 Foxit PDF Reader < 4.3.1.0218 JavaScript File Write CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.4
- TI-2016-06851 Out-of-bounds read in Foxit Reader CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 6.8
- TI-2018-02932 Use after free in Foxit PDF Reader CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2018-02965 Use after free in Foxit PDF Reader CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2018-02964 Use after free in Foxit PDF Reader CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2018-02962 Use after free in Foxit PDF Reader CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-3780 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-3780 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jcq9-87h6-4wcr · 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