CVE-2022-38097Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Code execution via destroyed annotation reuse

Published Nov 21, 2022 · Updated Apr 15, 2025

Use-after-free in Foxit PDF Reader 12.0.1.12430 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted PDF opened by a user. A PDF JavaScript OnBlur action can call destroy() on an annotation object, and the engine later reuses that freed memory. Exploitation requires opening the document or visiting a malicious site with the browser plugin enabled, and code runs in the affected user's context.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.19%
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 12.0.1.12430 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted PDF opened by a user. A PDF JavaScript OnBlur action can call destroy() on an annotation object, and the engine later reuses that freed memory. Exploitation requires opening the document or visiting a malicious site with the browser plugin enabled, and code runs in the affected user's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-38097
Published
Nov 21, 2022
Updated
Apr 15, 2025
Vendor
Foxit Software
Product
Foxit PDF Reader
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 21, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 15, 2025Record 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=12.0.1.12430

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Foxit Software · Foxit PDF Readerversion=12.0.1.12430

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8Cisco TalosCVSS:3.0/AV:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

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

Public exploit references

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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