# CVE-2018-20248: Memory corruption in Foxit Quick PDF Library

> Attackers can trigger out-of-bounds memory access via malformed PDFs, potentially leading to code execution or crashes in applications using the library.

- **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:** 24 Dec 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mqg6-4mpr-wf6p

## What is CVE-2018-20248?

CVE-2018-20248 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Foxit Quick PDF Library, published on 24 Dec 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In Foxit Quick PDF Library (all versions prior to 16.12), issue where loading a malformed or malicious PDF containing invalid xref table pointers or invalid xref table data using the LoadFromFile, LoadFromString, LoadFromStream, DAOpenFile or DAOpenFileReadOnly functions may result in an access violation caused by out of bounds memory access.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer), CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-20248?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Foxitsoftware Quick Pdf Library.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-20248?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-20248 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-20248 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-20248 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Foxit Quick PDF Library

- [CVE-2018-20249](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20249/): Memory corruption in Foxit Quick PDF Library (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2018-20247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20247/): Denial of service in Foxit Quick PDF Library (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-20248 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-20248 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Foxit Quick PDF Library, published on 24 Dec 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-2018-20248 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Foxit Quick PDF Library. 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-2018-20248/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20248/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-20248
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-20248
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-20248

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20248/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.