Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-9956 is a code execution flaw in Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1049. An attacker would need a user to open a malicious file or visit a malicious page. If successful, attacker code runs inside the Foxit Reader process, creating workstation compromise risk.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority if legacy Foxit Reader is present, because successful exploitation can execute code on user workstations. If inventory confirms no affected version, priority can drop to monitoring and documentation.
Technical view
The flaw is in Foxit Reader handling of XFA Button elements. When setting the title attribute, the process does not properly validate an object's existence before operating on it. The CVE maps to CWE-416 and can allow arbitrary code execution in the current process.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to systems running Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1049. The bundle does not identify other affected Foxit products or versions, so do not broaden scope without vendor evidence.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires user interaction: opening a malicious file or visiting a malicious page.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a client-side RCE condition tied to XFA Button title attribute handling in Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1049. Public bundle lacks CVSS, exploit-in-the-wild evidence, and exact fixed-version details.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory endpoints for Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1049 and prioritize removal or vendor-supported update.
- Review Foxit security bulletin guidance before choosing the exact fixed version.
- Reduce user exposure to untrusted PDF files and suspicious web-delivered documents.
- Use endpoint controls to restrict unsupported or legacy PDF reader versions.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Foxit Reader 9.0.1.1049 exists in software inventory.
- Check managed endpoints for Foxit Reader version and update status.
- Review Foxit advisory information for affected build and remediation guidance.
- Verify mail and web controls flag suspicious PDF delivery patterns.
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-2018-9956 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-18-340CVE 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.