Code execution via stale PDF object dereference
Published Dec 19, 2025 · Updated Dec 19, 2025
Use-after-free in Foxit PDF Reader and PDF Editor 2025.2.1, 14.0.1, and 13.2.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code. During PDF parsing, multiple parent objects manage the same PDF object; one parent frees it while another retains and later dereferences the stale reference. Exploitation requires a user to open a malicious PDF or visit a malicious page, and successful code runs in the current process.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Foxit PDF Reader and PDF Editor 2025.2.1, 14.0.1, and 13.2.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code. During PDF parsing, multiple parent objects manage the same PDF object; one parent frees it while another retains and later dereferences the stale reference. Exploitation requires a user to open a malicious PDF or visit a malicious page, and successful code runs in the current process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-66494
- Published
- Dec 19, 2025
- Updated
- Dec 19, 2025
- Vendor
- Foxit Software
- Product
- Foxit PDF Reader
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 19, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 19, 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.
- Affected versionversion=Versions 13.2.1 and eariler
- Affected versionversion=Versions 14.0.1 and earlier
- Affected versionversion=Versions 2025.2.1 and earlier
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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