CVE-2021-31476

Code execution via XFA template type confusion

Published Jun 16, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Type confusion in XFA template handling in Foxit PhantomPDF 10.1.3.37598 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. The XFA template handling path fails to validate user-supplied objects against their expected types, causing incompatible-type access in the current process. Exploitation requires the target to visit a malicious page or open a malicious PDF, and code runs with the current process's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability6.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Type confusion in XFA template handling in Foxit PhantomPDF 10.1.3.37598 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. The XFA template handling path fails to validate user-supplied objects against their expected types, causing incompatible-type access in the current process. Exploitation requires the target to visit a malicious page or open a malicious PDF, and code runs with the current process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31476
Published
Jun 16, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Foxit Software
Product
Foxit PDF Editor
Classifications
CWE-843, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 16, 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=10.1.3.37598

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Foxit Software · Foxit PDF Editorversion=10.1.3.37598

Published CVSS scores

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
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-843Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type ('Type Confusion')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002User Execution Malicious 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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