# CVE-2024-49576: Use after free in Foxit Reader

> A use-after-free in Foxit Reader allows arbitrary code execution via malicious PDFs or websites, requiring user interaction.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** 18 Dec 2024
- **Updated:** 18 Dec 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rx5r-j988-cf3j

## What is CVE-2024-49576?

CVE-2024-49576 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Foxit Pdf Editor, published on 18 Dec 2024. 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

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in the way Foxit Reader 2024.3.0.26795 handles a checkbox CBF_Widget object. A specially crafted Javascript code inside a malicious PDF document can trigger this vulnerability, which can lead to memory corruption and result in arbitrary code execution. An attacker needs to trick the user into opening the malicious file to trigger this vulnerability. Exploitation is also possible if a user visits a specially crafted, malicious site if the browser plugin extension is enabled.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-49576?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Foxit Pdf Editor, Foxit Pdf Reader.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-49576?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-49576 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-49576 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-49576 exists.

## 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-2024-49576 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-49576 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Foxit Pdf Editor, published on 18 Dec 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-49576 exists.

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-2024-49576/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-49576/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-49576
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-49576
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-49576

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-49576/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.