# CVE-2025-9330: Foxit PDF Reader Update Service Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

> Local attackers can escalate privileges to SYSTEM by exploiting an uncontrolled search path in the Foxit PDF Reader Update Service.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Sep 2025
- **Updated:** 2 Sep 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-98mc-hvgq-qgqj

## What is CVE-2025-9330?

CVE-2025-9330 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Foxit Pdf Editor, published on 2 Sep 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Foxit PDF Reader Update Service Uncontrolled Search Path Element 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 Foxit Reader Update Service. The product loads a library from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-25709.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-9330?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Foxit Pdf Editor, Foxit Pdf Reader.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-9330?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-9330 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-9330 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-9330 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-2025-9330 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-9330 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Foxit Pdf Editor, published on 2 Sep 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-9330 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-2025-9330/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9330/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-9330
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-9330
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-9330

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9330/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.