# CVE-2024-12753: Foxit PDF Reader Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

> Local attackers can escalate privileges to SYSTEM by abusing junctions in the Foxit PDF Reader installer to create arbitrary files.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.7 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 30 Dec 2024
- **Updated:** 9 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rfx4-8cp9-vwwx

## What is CVE-2024-12753?

CVE-2024-12753 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Foxit Pdf Editor, published on 30 Dec 2024. 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

Foxit PDF Reader Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Foxit PDF Reader. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the product installer. By creating a junction, an attacker can abuse the installer process to create an arbitrary file. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-25408.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-12753?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Foxit Pdf Editor, Foxit Pdf Reader.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-12753?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-12753 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-12753 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-12753 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Foxit Pdf Editor

- [CVE-2022-28104](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-28104/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-24954](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24954/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-24955](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-24955/): Other in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-91798](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-91798/): Foxit PDF Editor/Reader Updater Privilege Escalation (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-91800](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-91800/): Foxit PDF Editor installer local privilege escalation (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-12753 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-12753 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Foxit Pdf Editor, published on 30 Dec 2024. 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-2024-12753 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Foxit Pdf Editor. 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-2024-12753/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-12753/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-12753
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-12753
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-12753

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-12753/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.