CVE-2021-34975

Code execution via transitionToState use-after-free

Published May 7, 2024 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use-after-free in affected Foxit PDF Reader and PDF Editor builds allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted PDF file. The transitionToState method performs operations on an object without first validating that the object still exists, permitting access after it has been freed. Exploitation requires a user to visit a malicious page or open a malicious file, and successful code runs in the context of the current process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.35%
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 affected Foxit PDF Reader and PDF Editor builds allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted PDF file. The transitionToState method performs operations on an object without first validating that the object still exists, permitting access after it has been freed. Exploitation requires a user to visit a malicious page or open a malicious file, and successful code runs in the context of the current process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-34975
Published
May 7, 2024
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Foxit Software
Product
Foxit PDF Reader
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 7, 2024CVE 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=0 <=11.0.1.49983
  2. Affected versionversion=11.0.1.49938

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Foxit Software · Foxit PDF Readerversion=0 <=11.0.1.49983; version=11.0.1.49938
Foxit Software · Foxit PDF Editorversion=0 <=10.1.5.37672; version=0 <=11.0.0.49983; version=0 <=11.0.1.4938

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

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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

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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