# CVE-2018-17684: Use after free in Reader

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening malicious files in Foxit Reader due to improper object validation.

- **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:** 24 Jan 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mg9c-7mh3-xpxq

## What is CVE-2018-17684?

CVE-2018-17684 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Phantompdf, published on 24 Jan 2019. 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 9.2.0.9297. 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 the isPropertySpecified method. 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-6470.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-17684?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Foxitsoftware Phantompdf, Foxitsoftware Reader.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-17684?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-17684 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-17684 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-17684 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-2018-17684 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-17684 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Phantompdf, published on 24 Jan 2019. 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-2018-17684 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-2018-17684/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17684/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-17684
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-17684
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-17684

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17684/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.