CVE-2023-28744Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary code execution via choice-field use-after-free

Published Jul 19, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Use-after-free in Foxit PDF Reader 12.1.1.15289 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted PDF choice field. The JavaScript engine renders a choice-field item by calling an attacker-defined toString method, which removes the field while its backing memory remains in use. Exploitation requires the user to open the PDF, or to visit a malicious site with the browser plugin enabled, and runs code in the Reader process context.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.92%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Foxit PDF Reader 12.1.1.15289 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted PDF choice field. The JavaScript engine renders a choice-field item by calling an attacker-defined toString method, which removes the field while its backing memory remains in use. Exploitation requires the user to open the PDF, or to visit a malicious site with the browser plugin enabled, and runs code in the Reader process context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28744
Published
Jul 19, 2023
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Foxit Software
Product
Foxit PDF Reader
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 19, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=12.1.1.15289

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Foxit Software · Foxit PDF Readerversion=12.1.1.15289

Published CVSS scores

8.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/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
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo