CVE-2018-21244

An issue was discovered in Foxit PhantomPDF before 8.3.6

published June 4, 2020

CVSS
—
EPSS
2%
Percentile
78.4
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A sneaky PDF could launch a rogue application! With Foxit PhantomPDF versions before 8.3.6, an embedded executable allows attackers to run arbitrary code, making it a vulnerability to keep an eye on! 🔍 Think of this as a cleverly packaged gift that, when opened, instead releases a swarm of bees into the room! It seems harmless at first glance but can unleash chaos without a second thought. An attacker could embed a malicious executable inside a PDF portfolio. If a user opens this document, it could result in arbitrary application execution, potentially compromising their system by running harmful software.

Put simply

Think of this as a cleverly packaged gift that, when opened, instead releases a swarm of bees into the room! It seems harmless at first glance but can unleash chaos without a second thought. This vulnerability in Foxit PhantomPDF enables arbitrary application execution via an embedded executable file in PDF portfolios, allowing an attacker to execute whatever code they desire when the file is opened.

What to do

An attacker could embed a malicious executable inside a PDF portfolio. If a user opens this document, it could result in arbitrary application execution, potentially compromising their system by running harmful software. Upgrade Foxit PhantomPDF to version 8.3.6 or later to eliminate this risk. Additionally, educate users about the dangers of opening unknown PDF files, especially those claiming to contain portfolios. You’ve got this! Stay vigilant and keep your software updated to protect your systems! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01807 · 78.4th percentile
Published
2020-06-04T16:17Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 04 JUN 16:17Z
    An issue was discovered in Foxit PhantomPDF before 8.3.6
    cvelistv5