Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-9944 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. Successful exploitation could let an attacker run code as the current user. The bundle does not show active exploitation or a confirmed fixed version.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation if the affected Foxit Reader version exists, especially on user workstations that receive external documents. This is not confirmed as actively exploited in the provided sources, but remote code execution through document interaction can create meaningful business risk.
Technical view
The flaw is in Foxit Reader's addLink method and is associated with CWE-416. The issue involves operations on an object without validating its existence, enabling code execution in the current process context. ZDI tracked it as ZDI-CAN-5379 and published advisory ZDI-18-328.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to systems running Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935. Risk is higher where users handle external PDFs, browser-delivered documents, or untrusted links. The provided sources do not identify other affected Foxit products or versions.
Exploitation context
The source bundle requires user interaction: opening a malicious file or visiting a malicious page. It does not cite CISA KEV listing, public exploitation, or exploit availability. Treat exploitation status as unconfirmed from these sources.
Researcher notes
Do not broaden scope beyond Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935 based on this bundle. Patch details are not included here, so validation should anchor on vendor bulletin review and installed-version evidence. The root issue is object lifetime or existence validation in addLink.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory endpoints for Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935.
- Check Foxit's security bulletin for vendor-confirmed fixed versions or guidance.
- Upgrade or remove vulnerable Foxit Reader installations where vendor guidance supports it.
- Limit opening of untrusted PDFs and links on affected systems.
- Apply least-privilege controls for users running PDF readers.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Foxit Reader 9.0.0.29935 exists in asset inventory.
- Verify any remediated endpoint no longer runs the affected version.
- Review Foxit and ZDI references for version-specific guidance.
- Confirm PDF-handling controls cover externally sourced files and links.
- Document that KEV status is false in the provided bundle.
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-416: 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-2018-9944 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-18-328CVE 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.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.