# CVE-2018-17617: Use after free in Foxit Reader

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a use-after-free flaw in Foxit Reader's onFocus event handling, requiring user interaction.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Oct 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8q78-76q7-v3vc

## What is CVE-2018-17617?

CVE-2018-17617 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Reader, published on 29 Oct 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.0.1.5096. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of onFocus events. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing operations on the object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-6335.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-17617?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Foxitsoftware Reader.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-17617?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-17617 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-17617 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-17617 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-2018-17619](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)
- [CVE-2019-13327](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13327/): Use after free in Reader (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-17617 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-17617 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Reader, published on 29 Oct 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-17617 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-2018-17617/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17617/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-17617
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-17617
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-17617

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17617/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.