# CVE-2018-16296: Use after free in n/a

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

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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 available:** No
- **Published:** 8 Oct 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-r3q4-h9cx-8phg

## What is CVE-2018-16296?

CVE-2018-16296 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-2018-16295, 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.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-16296?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Foxitsoftware Phantompdf, Foxitsoftware Reader.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-16296?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-16296 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-16296 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-16296 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Foxitsoftware Phantompdf

- [CVE-2018-21242](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-21242/): An issue was discovered in Foxit PhantomPDF before 8.3.6. (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-21244](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-21244/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-20825](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-20825/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-20827](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-20827/): Denial of service in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-20830](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-20830/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-16296 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-16296 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-16296 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Foxitsoftware Phantompdf. 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-2018-16296/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16296/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16296
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16296
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-16296

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16296/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.