CVE-2024-30331 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2024
Foxit PDF Reader AcroForm Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Foxit PDF Reader. 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 handling of Doc objects in 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-22637.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-30331 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Foxit PDF Reader's handling of AcroForm elements within PDF documents. This security defect resides in the application's document object management system where the software fails to properly validate whether objects exist before attempting operations on them. The vulnerability specifically affects the AcroForm processing functionality, which is essential for interactive PDF forms that include text fields, checkboxes, and other user input elements. When a malicious PDF document is processed by the affected software, the improper object validation leads to a scenario where freed memory locations are accessed and reused, creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction through either visiting a malicious webpage that loads a compromised PDF or opening a specially crafted malicious file. This user interaction requirement aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage vulnerabilities in applications to execute malicious code. The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate memory management practices where the PDF reader does not properly enforce object lifecycle validation before performing operations on document objects. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-416, Use After Free, which occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, creating a potential attack surface for remote code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user running Foxit PDF Reader. This represents a privilege escalation scenario where the attacker can potentially gain full control over the affected system. The vulnerability affects all versions of Foxit PDF Reader that process AcroForm elements, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently exchanged. The attack vector through web browsers or email attachments means that users may inadvertently trigger the exploit without sophisticated technical knowledge, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with limited security awareness training.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of Foxit PDF Reader where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing network-based protections through firewalls and web proxies to filter potentially malicious PDF content, and deploying endpoint protection solutions that can detect suspicious PDF processing behavior. Security teams should also consider implementing user education programs to reduce the risk of accidental exploitation through social engineering attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in security-critical applications and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation and object lifecycle management in PDF processing libraries. This flaw serves as a reminder of the critical security considerations required when developing applications that handle untrusted document formats, particularly those with complex interactive elements like AcroForms that require careful handling of object references and memory allocation patterns.