CVE-2024-30367 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 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-23013.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2025
The CVE-2024-30367 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Foxit PDF Reader's handling of AcroForm elements, constituting a remote code execution vulnerability that poses significant security risks to affected systems. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The flaw exists within the PDF reader's AcroForm processing subsystem, which is responsible for handling interactive form elements within PDF documents including text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, and other user input components that enable dynamic document interaction. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to verify object existence before performing operations on them, creating a dangerous race condition where freed memory objects can be accessed and manipulated by malicious actors.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction through either visiting a malicious webpage that delivers a crafted PDF document or opening a specially crafted PDF file that contains malicious AcroForm elements. This user interaction requirement aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes the use of malicious documents as attack vectors, and represents a common delivery method for remote code execution attacks in enterprise environments where users frequently interact with PDF documents. The attack scenario begins when a user opens a malicious PDF containing specially crafted AcroForm elements that trigger the vulnerable code path within the Foxit PDF Reader application. The lack of proper validation allows an attacker to manipulate the memory layout and potentially overwrite critical function pointers or execute arbitrary code within the context of the PDF reader process, which typically runs with the privileges of the authenticated user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise when users open malicious documents. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in privilege escalation scenarios where attackers gain elevated system access, potentially leading to persistent backdoor installation, data exfiltration, or further network reconnaissance activities. The remote code execution capability makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where PDF documents are frequently shared and opened by multiple users, creating a broad attack surface. Security professionals must consider that this vulnerability could be weaponized in targeted attacks against specific organizations, especially those in high-value sectors such as finance, government, or critical infrastructure where PDF document handling is common.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-30367 should include immediate application of vendor patches, which are typically released through the Foxit security advisory process and may be available through standard security update channels. Organizations should implement network-based controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious PDF content before it reaches end users. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious PDF documents, particularly those received via email or downloaded from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's remediation aligns with security best practices outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, particularly in the protection and detection phases of the framework, where continuous monitoring and timely patch management are essential. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing technologies for PDF processing and maintaining detailed logging of PDF document interactions to aid in incident response and forensic analysis when such vulnerabilities are exploited in the wild.