CVE-2021-31459

Code execution via stale XFA form object

Published May 7, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Use-after-free in XFA form handling in Foxit Software Foxit PDF Reader 10.1.1.37576 allows remote attackers to execute code. The XFA handler performs operations on an object without first confirming that the object still exists, allowing access to released memory. Exploitation requires the target to visit a malicious page or open a malicious PDF, and code runs in the current process context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.78%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in XFA form handling in Foxit Software Foxit PDF Reader 10.1.1.37576 allows remote attackers to execute code. The XFA handler performs operations on an object without first confirming that the object still exists, allowing access to released memory. Exploitation requires the target to visit a malicious page or open a malicious PDF, and code runs in the current process context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31459
Published
May 7, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Foxit Software
Product
Foxit PDF Reader
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 7, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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=10.1.1.37576

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Foxit Software · Foxit PDF Readerversion=10.1.1.37576

Published CVSS scores

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

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-416Use After Free
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002Malicious File

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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