Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Foxit Reader 10.1.3.37598 can mishandle certain 3D content inside a PDF. A victim must open a malicious PDF or visit a malicious page. The direct impact is limited information disclosure, but the advisory says it could support code execution when combined with other vulnerabilities.
Executive priority
Treat as a low-priority endpoint patching issue unless the affected version is widely deployed or users routinely handle untrusted PDFs. The business risk rises if this flaw is chained with other PDF reader vulnerabilities.
Technical view
CVE-2021-31462 is a CWE-125 out-of-bounds read in Foxit Reader U3D object handling. Improper validation of user-supplied PDF data can cause reads past an allocated object. CVSS is 3.3 with user interaction required and low confidentiality impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to endpoints running Foxit Reader 10.1.3.37598, especially where users open externally supplied PDFs or browser-delivered PDF content. The source bundle does not identify other Foxit products or versions as affected.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not indicate active exploitation, and CISA KEV status is false. Exploitation requires user interaction through a malicious file or page. The main standalone impact is sensitive information disclosure, with possible chaining into arbitrary code execution.
Researcher notes
The key constraint is user interaction. Sources describe U3D parsing, CWE-125, and read past allocated object boundaries, but do not provide a fixed version or standalone exploit evidence. Avoid assuming broader Foxit product exposure without vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Check Foxit’s security bulletin for the vendor-supported remediation path.
- Update affected Foxit Reader installations according to Foxit guidance.
- Reduce exposure to untrusted PDFs until remediation is complete.
- Use email and web filtering to limit malicious PDF delivery.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints for Foxit Reader 10.1.3.37598.
- Confirm affected systems are updated or otherwise remediated per Foxit guidance.
- Review default PDF handler settings on high-risk workstations.
- Check security telemetry for suspicious PDF delivery to exposed users.
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-125: 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-2021-31462 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
- Low
- CVSS
- 3.3 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
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 vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N1.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
3.3LowVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.foxitsoftware.com/support/security-bulletins.phpCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-551/CVE 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.
Out-of-bounds Read
Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.