# CVE-2018-3924: Use after free in Foxit

> A use-after-free vulnerability in Foxit PDF Reader allows arbitrary code execution via a malicious PDF or website.

- **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:** 1 Aug 2018
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gqjx-6w9v-wr78

## What is CVE-2018-3924?

CVE-2018-3924 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader, published on 1 Aug 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

An exploitable use-after-free vulnerability exists in the JavaScript engine of Foxit Software's Foxit PDF Reader version 9.1.5096. 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 into opening 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-2018-3924?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader, Foxitsoftware Phantompdf.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-3924?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-3924 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-3924 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-3924 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader

- [CVE-2021-33793](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-33793/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-38568](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38568/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-38572](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38572/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-38573](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38573/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-38574](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38574/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-3924 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-3924 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader, published on 1 Aug 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-2018-3924 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Foxitsoftware Foxit 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-2018-3924/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-3924/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-3924
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-3924
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-3924

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-3924/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.