CVE-2023-42094

Code execution via invalid Annotation object reuse

Published May 3, 2024 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Use-after-free in Annotation handling in Foxit PDF Reader 12.1.3.15356 and PDF Editor 11.2.7.53812 and earlier allows attackers to execute code. Annotation processing fails to verify that an object still exists before operating on it, allowing freed memory to be reused during document parsing. Exploitation requires the target to open a malicious file or visit a malicious page and runs code in the current process context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.53%
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 Annotation handling in Foxit PDF Reader 12.1.3.15356 and PDF Editor 11.2.7.53812 and earlier allows attackers to execute code. Annotation processing fails to verify that an object still exists before operating on it, allowing freed memory to be reused during document parsing. Exploitation requires the target to open a malicious file or visit a malicious page and runs code in the current process context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42094
Published
May 3, 2024
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Foxit Software
Product
Foxit PDF Reader
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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=12.1.3.15356

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Foxit Software · Foxit PDF Readerversion=12.1.3.15356
Foxit Software · Foxit PDF Editorversion=0 <=10.1.12.37872; version=11.0.0 <=11.2.7.53812

Published CVSS scores

7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS: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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