CVE-2025-55313 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE • 12/11/2025
An issue was discovered in Foxit PDF and Editor for Windows and macOS before 13.2 and 2025 before 2025.2. They allow potential arbitrary code execution when processing crafted PDF files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient handling of memory allocation failures after assigning an extremely large value to a form field's charLimit property via JavaScript. This can result in memory corruption and may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code by persuading a user to open a malicious file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2025
CVE-2025-55313 represents a critical memory corruption vulnerability affecting Foxit PDF and Editor software across both Windows and macOS platforms. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper error handling and memory management flaws that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The flaw specifically manifests when the software processes PDF files containing maliciously crafted JavaScript code that manipulates form field properties. The vulnerability is rooted in the application's insufficient handling of memory allocation failures, particularly when dealing with extremely large values assigned to the charLimit property of form fields. When JavaScript code attempts to set an impossibly large charLimit value, the memory allocation mechanism fails to properly validate or handle this extreme input, creating a condition where memory corruption can occur. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-704 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which covers improper type conversion or cast errors that can lead to memory corruption. The attack vector requires social engineering to persuade users to open malicious PDF files, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios where attackers can craft convincing phishing campaigns or exploit software in legitimate business workflows.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific sequence of events that begins with a crafted PDF file containing malicious JavaScript code. The JavaScript code specifically targets the charLimit property of form fields and assigns it an extremely large value that exceeds normal operational parameters. When the Foxit software attempts to process this invalid input, it fails to properly validate the memory allocation request, leading to a situation where the application allocates insufficient memory or handles the allocation error incorrectly. This improper memory handling creates a memory corruption condition that can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite critical memory locations. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflows and memory corruption issues that align with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for JavaScript and VBScript execution. The memory corruption allows attackers to potentially overwrite function pointers, return addresses, or other critical program data structures, providing a pathway for arbitrary code execution. The exploitation requires that the victim actually opens the malicious PDF file, making user interaction a necessary component of the attack chain.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-55313 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass significant security risks for organizations relying on Foxit PDF software for document processing. This vulnerability affects both Windows and macOS environments, creating a broad attack surface that could impact enterprise networks where multiple operating systems are in use. Organizations that process large volumes of PDF documents, particularly those involving form filling or data entry workflows, face heightened risk as these scenarios provide more opportunities for exploitation. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution means that attackers could gain complete control over affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or further lateral movement within network environments. The memory corruption nature of the vulnerability makes it particularly challenging to detect through standard security monitoring as the corruption might not immediately manifest in obvious system behavior. The lack of input validation for the charLimit property creates a persistent risk that remains active until the software is patched, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in long-running systems or environments where patching cycles are infrequent. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as a potential entry point for advanced persistent threats that could leverage the arbitrary code execution capability to establish persistent access to target environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-55313 should focus on immediate software updates and operational controls to reduce risk exposure. Organizations must prioritize updating Foxit PDF and Editor software to versions 13.2 for Windows and 2025.2 for macOS, which contain the necessary patches to address the memory allocation handling issue. Until updates are deployed, organizations should implement strict PDF file filtering policies that prevent the opening of PDF files from untrusted sources or those containing JavaScript code. Network-level controls such as email filtering, web proxies, and content inspection systems should be configured to block suspicious PDF files or those that exhibit characteristics associated with malicious document crafting. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing or virtualization techniques when processing PDF documents to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's reliance on user interaction makes user awareness training essential, particularly for identifying suspicious email attachments or unexpected PDF file downloads. Additionally, system monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory allocation patterns or process behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also review their document processing workflows to identify scenarios where form fields might be exposed to untrusted input, ensuring that appropriate validation and sanitization measures are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from manifesting in other applications or components. The remediation approach should follow standard vulnerability management practices as outlined in NIST SP 800-40 guidelines for addressing memory corruption vulnerabilities in enterprise software environments.