Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-9940 is a remote code execution issue in Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935. A user would need to open a malicious file or visit a malicious page. Successful exploitation could run attacker-controlled code with the user's privileges. The provided sources do not show KEV listing, CVSS scoring, active exploitation, or a specific fixed version.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation where Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935 is used by staff handling external documents. Business urgency is high because impact is code execution, but urgency is moderated by required user interaction and no confirmed active exploitation in the provided sources.
Technical view
The flaw is in handling of the layout sheet attribute and is described as improper validation leading to type confusion, mapped to CWE-704. ZDI tracked it as ZDI-CAN-5374 / ZDI-18-324. Impact is arbitrary code execution in the current process context on vulnerable Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935 installations.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to endpoints running Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935, especially where users open untrusted PDFs or browse attacker-controlled content. Organizations with unmanaged desktop software, legacy images, or PDF-heavy workflows should check for this specific version.
Exploitation context
The source bundle says exploitation requires user interaction: opening a malicious file or visiting a malicious page. No provided source confirms active exploitation, and KEV is false. Treat it as phishing-deliverable RCE risk, not a confirmed exploited vulnerability.
Researcher notes
The public description identifies a layout sheet attribute handling issue causing type confusion. The bundle lacks CVSS metrics, exploit maturity details, and fixed-version data. Do not broaden affected scope beyond Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935 without vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Identify and remove or upgrade Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935 where present.
- Review Foxit security bulletins for vendor-confirmed fixed versions and supported update paths.
- Restrict opening of untrusted PDFs on affected endpoints until remediation is complete.
- Use endpoint controls to limit child-process execution from PDF reader processes where available.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed Foxit Reader versions across managed endpoints.
- Confirm whether any asset reports Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935 specifically.
- Review email and web security telemetry for suspicious PDF delivery to affected users.
- Verify remediation by rescanning endpoints after vendor-guided update or removal.
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-2018-9940 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://zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-18-324CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.foxitsoftware.com/support/security-bulletins.phpCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
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.