Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-31470 is a high-severity remote code execution issue in Foxit Reader 10.1.1.37576. A victim must open a crafted PDF or visit a malicious page. Successful exploitation could run attacker code with the user’s privileges, putting endpoint data and access at risk.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation where Foxit Reader is deployed to users who handle external documents. The issue is not listed as actively exploited in the provided evidence, but the impact is serious because successful exploitation can run code on user workstations.
Technical view
The flaw is in Foxit Reader’s handling of U3D objects inside PDF files. The published description says Foxit fails to validate that an object exists before operating on it, mapped to CWE-416. ZDI reported that exploitation can execute code in the current process. CVSS is 7.8, with required user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to environments running Foxit Reader 10.1.1.37576, especially where users receive external PDFs or Foxit opens PDFs from browsers, email, shared drives, or collaboration platforms.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited active exploitation. Exploitation requires user interaction: opening a malicious file or visiting a malicious page. Treat phishing and document-delivery paths as the primary risk context.
Researcher notes
Evidence names Foxit Reader 10.1.1.37576 and U3D object handling. The bundle does not include fixed-version details, proof of exploitation, or detailed vendor mitigation text. Avoid broad product assumptions beyond the cited affected version.
Mitigation direction
- Identify and prioritize systems running Foxit Reader 10.1.1.37576.
- Consult Foxit’s security bulletin for CVE-2021-31470 and apply vendor guidance.
- Remove or isolate the affected Reader version where update timing is uncertain.
- Harden email, web, and endpoint controls for untrusted PDF handling.
- Limit user privileges on endpoints that process external documents.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoint software for Foxit Reader 10.1.1.37576.
- Confirm which application opens PDFs by default on managed endpoints.
- Review email and web controls for external PDF inspection or sandboxing.
- Check vulnerability scanner coverage against CVE-2021-31470.
- Verify Foxit advisory remediation status for affected installations.
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-2021-31470 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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-21-527/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.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.