CVE-2021-41781

Arbitrary code execution via JavaScript use-after-free

Published Aug 29, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use-after-free in Foxit PDF Reader and PDF Editor before 11.1 and PhantomPDF before 10.1.6 allows attackers to execute code via PDF JavaScript. During JavaScript or annotation-object processing, the application accesses freed memory, pointers, or objects without validating their lifetime. Exploitation requires user interaction with a crafted document and can run code in the application's context or crash it.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.96%
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 Foxit PDF Reader and PDF Editor before 11.1 and PhantomPDF before 10.1.6 allows attackers to execute code via PDF JavaScript. During JavaScript or annotation-object processing, the application accesses freed memory, pointers, or objects without validating their lifetime. Exploitation requires user interaction with a crafted document and can run code in the application's context or crash it.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-41781
Published
Aug 29, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 29, 2022CVE 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?

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

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/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-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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