# CVE-2022-43310: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Attackers can escalate privileges by exploiting an uncontrolled search path element in Foxit Reader's DLL loading mechanism.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/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:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Nov 2022
- **Updated:** 1 May 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v33q-grx6-58x9

## What is CVE-2022-43310?

CVE-2022-43310 is a high-severity vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader, published on 9 Nov 2022. 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

An Uncontrolled Search Path Element in Foxit Software released Foxit Reader v11.2.118.51569 allows attackers to escalate privileges when searching for DLL libraries without specifying an absolute path.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-43310?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-43310?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-43310 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-43310 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-43310 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-2022-43310 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-43310 is a high-severity vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader, published on 9 Nov 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-43310 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-2022-43310/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43310/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-43310
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-43310
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-43310

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43310/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.