CVE-2019-6769 Use after free in Reader

High 7.8 Published 3 Jun 2019 Updated 4 Aug 2024

Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a malicious PDF file due to a use-after-free flaw in Foxit Reader's AcroForms processing.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: A user has to click or open something
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2019-6769?

CVE-2019-6769 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader, published on 3 Jun 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, 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 9.4.1.16828. 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 removeField method when processing AcroForms. 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-8165.

Weakness: CWE-416

Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-6769?

It affects 2 products.

Products include Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader, Foxitsoftware Phantompdf.

How do I fix CVE-2019-6769?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-6769 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.

Is CVE-2019-6769 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-6769 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-r5wp-6p3j-7xrj.