CVE-2018-19418Public exploit

Remote code execution via unchecked Launch action

Published Jan 7, 2021 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Command injection in Foxit PDF ActiveX 5.5.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted PDF. The ActiveX parser processes an OpenAction Launch entry and passes its attacker-controlled command line directly to CreateProcessW without security permission checks; setting NewWindow bypasses the consent prompt. Exploitation requires a victim to open or preview a malicious Office document or PDF that instantiates the control, after which the launched binary runs with the user's Windows privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability7.99%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Foxit PDF ActiveX 5.5.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted PDF. The ActiveX parser processes an OpenAction Launch entry and passes its attacker-controlled command line directly to CreateProcessW without security permission checks; setting NewWindow bypasses the consent prompt. Exploitation requires a victim to open or preview a malicious Office document or PDF that instantiates the control, after which the launched binary runs with the user's Windows privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2018-19418
Published
Jan 7, 2021
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-77, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 7, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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