CVE-2020-8853

Code execution via HTML-to-PDF out-of-bounds write

Published Feb 13, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Out-of-bounds write in Foxit PDF Editor 9.7.0.29478 allows remote attackers to execute code through a malicious HTML file. The HTML-to-PDF conversion path fails to validate user-controlled data before writing past the end of an allocated structure. Execution occurs in the current process only after a user visits a malicious page or opens a malicious file, and Foxit identifies Windows as the affected platform.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability6.00%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds write in Foxit PDF Editor 9.7.0.29478 allows remote attackers to execute code through a malicious HTML file. The HTML-to-PDF conversion path fails to validate user-controlled data before writing past the end of an allocated structure. Execution occurs in the current process only after a user visits a malicious page or opens a malicious file, and Foxit identifies Windows as the affected platform.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8853
Published
Feb 13, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Foxit Software
Product
Foxit PDF Editor
Classifications
CWE-787, T1203, T1204.002, T1204.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 13, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=9.7.0.29478

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Foxit Software · Foxit PDF Editorversion=9.7.0.29478

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002Malicious File
T1204.001Malicious Link

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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