# CVE-2018-17610: Use after free in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via mishandled Annotation object properties in Foxit PDF software.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Sep 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-whqj-p2q6-m7qg

## What is CVE-2018-17610?

CVE-2018-17610 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Phantompdf, published on 28 Sep 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Foxit PhantomPDF and Reader before 9.3 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (use-after-free) because properties of Annotation objects are mishandled. This relates to one of five distinct types of Annotation objects.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-17610?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Foxitsoftware Phantompdf, Foxitsoftware Reader.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-17610?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-17610 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-17610 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-17610 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-2018-17610 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-17610 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Phantompdf, published on 28 Sep 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-17610 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-2018-17610/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17610/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-17610
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-17610
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-17610

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17610/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.