CVE-2018-16295 Use after free in n/a

High 7.8 Published 8 Oct 2018 Updated 5 Aug 2024

A use-after-free in the JavaScript engine allows arbitrary code execution via a malicious PDF, requiring user interaction to open the file.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: A user has to click or open something
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2018-16295?

CVE-2018-16295 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Phantompdf, published on 8 Oct 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

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-2018-16296, 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.

Weakness: CWE-416

Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-16295?

It affects 2 products.

Products include Foxitsoftware Phantompdf, Foxitsoftware Reader.

How do I fix CVE-2018-16295?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-16295 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2018-16295 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-16295 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Foxitsoftware Phantompdf vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-2j56-fcwx-7q33.