Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-9939 is a remote code execution flaw in Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935. A user must open a malicious file or visit a malicious page. If successful, attacker code runs with the user’s privileges, making affected desktop endpoints the main concern.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority endpoint remediation issue where Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935 is present. The business urgency depends on deployment footprint and user exposure to external documents. No active exploitation evidence is provided in the source bundle.
Technical view
The flaw is in Foxit Reader handling of layout elements. Improper validation of user-supplied data can cause a type confusion condition, classified as CWE-704, allowing arbitrary code execution in the current process. The source bundle does not provide CVSS scoring.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to installations of Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935 identified in the sources. Risk is highest for users who receive external documents or browse pages that may invoke Foxit Reader content handling. Sources do not identify other affected products.
Exploitation context
User interaction is required: the target must open a malicious file or visit a malicious page. The provided sources do not state active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked as CISA KEV.
Researcher notes
This is ZDI-CAN-5373 and maps to CWE-704. The key technical condition is type confusion during layout element handling caused by insufficient validation. The provided data lacks CVSS, detailed patch version, and exploit-in-the-wild confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory endpoints for Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935.
- Review Foxit’s security bulletin for vendor-approved update guidance.
- Upgrade or remove affected Foxit Reader installations following vendor guidance.
- Limit opening untrusted files until affected installations are remediated.
- Prioritize users handling external PDFs or high-risk attachments.
Validation and detection
- Confirm Foxit Reader version on managed endpoints.
- Verify no systems remain on Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935.
- Check software inventory for unmanaged or legacy installations.
- Review email and web controls for untrusted document handling exposure.
- Document remediation status and any accepted residual risk.
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-704: 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-2018-9939 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-18-323CVE 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.
Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast
Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.