# CVE-2016-8856: Misconfiguration in n/a

> Weak file permissions in Foxit Reader allow attackers to overwrite core files, leading to arbitrary code execution and privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 31 Oct 2016
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rjw9-v59v-932x

## What is CVE-2016-8856?

CVE-2016-8856 is a high-severity vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Reader, published on 31 Oct 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Foxit Reader for Mac 2.1.0.0804 and earlier and Foxit Reader for Linux 2.1.0.0805 and earlier suffered from a vulnerability where weak file permissions could be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code. After the installation, Foxit Reader's core files were world-writable by default, allowing an attacker to overwrite them with backdoor code, which when executed by privileged user would result in Privilege Escalation, Code Execution, or both.

Weakness: CWE-275

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-8856?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Foxitsoftware Reader.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-8856?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-8856 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-8856 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-8856 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Foxitsoftware Reader

- [CVE-2009-0836](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0836/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2018-17617](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17617/): Use after free in Foxit Reader (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-17619](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17619/): Use after free in Foxit Reader (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-17621](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17621/): Use after free in Foxit Reader (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-13326](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13326/): Use after free in Reader (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-8856 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-8856 is a high-severity vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Reader, published on 31 Oct 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-8856 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Foxitsoftware Reader. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8856/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8856/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-8856
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8856
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-8856

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8856/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.