CVE-2021-38573

An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 10.1.4

published August 11, 2021

CVSS
—
EPSS
1%
Percentile
65.8
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A sneaky path validation issue in Foxit Reader might let an attacker write files anywhere — that's like a vendor accepting delivery instructions without checking the address! 📦 Think of it like a delivery service that doesn’t bother to verify where packages should go. Instead of just dropping them at the intended location, it blindly sends them to any address written on the label, leaving all kinds of possibilities open for mischief! Imagine an attacker being able to overwrite crucial files on the system or drop malicious payloads wherever they please! This could lead to data loss or even launching more sophisticated attacks, potentially compromising the entire system.

Put simply

Think of it like a delivery service that doesn’t bother to verify where packages should go. Instead of just dropping them at the intended location, it blindly sends them to any address written on the label, leaving all kinds of possibilities open for mischief! In Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF versions before 10.1.4, the CombineFiles function lacks proper validation for file paths, allowing attackers to write to arbitrary files on the system. This flaw is concerning because it opens the door to unauthorized file manipulation.

What to do

Imagine an attacker being able to overwrite crucial files on the system or drop malicious payloads wherever they please! This could lead to data loss or even launching more sophisticated attacks, potentially compromising the entire system. To protect your system, update Foxit Reader or PhantomPDF to version 10.1.4 or later immediately. Additionally, consider implementing stricter file path validations in your configurations. Regularly reviewing your software for updates is a good practice! You've got this! Stay proactive and your defenses will be as solid as ever! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01117 · 65.8th percentile
Published
2021-08-11T21:12Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 11 AUG 21:12Z
    An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 10.1.4
    cvelistv5