Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-10494 is a remote code execution flaw in Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1049. A user must open a malicious file or visit a malicious page. If exploited, attacker code could run with the user’s privileges. The source bundle does not show active exploitation or a confirmed patched version.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority legacy endpoint cleanup issue. It can enable code execution, but requires user interaction and the supplied evidence does not show active exploitation. Focus on finding and upgrading the specific affected Foxit Reader version.
Technical view
The flaw is in Foxit Reader parsing of U3D 3DView objects. Improper validation of user-supplied length before copying into a fixed-size stack buffer can cause stack-based buffer overflow, mapped to CWE-121. ZDI tracked it as ZDI-CAN-5493 and ZDI-18-404.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on endpoints still running Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1049, especially where users receive untrusted PDFs or browse attacker-controlled content. The bundle identifies only that version and does not prove broader Foxit product impact.
Exploitation context
Sources state exploitation requires user interaction: opening a malicious file or visiting a malicious page. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the bundle, and no cited source here supports active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
The public bundle supports a version-specific Foxit Reader RCE caused by stack buffer overflow in U3D 3DView parsing. CVSS data is absent, and the fixed version is not included in the provided text. Avoid claiming exploitation or broader product impact without additional vendor evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Identify Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1049 installations across managed endpoints.
- Check Foxit security bulletins for the vendor-confirmed fixed release.
- Upgrade affected installations according to Foxit guidance.
- Remove or isolate affected installations if upgrade status cannot be confirmed.
- Reduce exposure to untrusted PDF and 3D PDF content until remediated.
Validation and detection
- Verify endpoint inventory for Foxit Reader version 9.0.1.1049.
- Confirm installed Foxit builds against Foxit’s security bulletin guidance.
- Check software deployment records for completed upgrade coverage.
- Review security controls for untrusted PDF attachments and downloads.
- Document any remaining affected hosts and compensating controls.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-121: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-10494 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.foxitsoftware.com/support/security-bulletins.phpCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-18-404CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Stack-based Buffer Overflow
Stack-based Buffer Overflow represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.