CVE-2026-5940

Code execution via invalidated Annotation object access

Published Apr 27, 2026 · Updated Apr 27, 2026

Use-after-free in affected Foxit PDF Editor and PDF Reader versions allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted PDF. After a script removes comments, Annotation handling triggers a UI refresh and operates on an object without first verifying that it still exists, dereferencing an invalidated object. Exploitation requires the target to visit a malicious page or open a malicious file, and successful code execution occurs in the current process context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
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 affected Foxit PDF Editor and PDF Reader versions allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted PDF. After a script removes comments, Annotation handling triggers a UI refresh and operates on an object without first verifying that it still exists, dereferencing an invalidated object. Exploitation requires the target to visit a malicious page or open a malicious file, and successful code execution occurs in the current process context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-5940
Published
Apr 27, 2026
Updated
Apr 27, 2026
Vendor
Foxit Software
Product
Foxit PDF Reader
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 27, 2026Record 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=Versions 2026.1 and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Foxit Software · Foxit PDF Readerversion=Versions 2026.1 and earlier
Foxit Software · Foxit PDF Editorversion=Versions 13.2.3 and earlier; version=Versions 14.0.3 and earlier; version=Versions 2026.1 and earlier

Published CVSS scores

7.8Foxit Software Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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