CVE-2022-37386
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Foxit PDF Reader allows remote attackers to read sensitive information from memory by exploiting an out-of-bounds read in the resetForm method. Attackers can combine this with other vulnerabilities to potentially execute arbitrary code. Users of Foxit PDF Reader 11.2.2.53575 who open malicious PDF files or visit malicious web pages are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Foxit PDF Reader
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete system compromise, data theft, and lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Information disclosure of sensitive memory contents, potentially exposing credentials or other confidential data.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing and memory protection controls in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires user interaction (opening malicious file) and may need to be chained with other vulnerabilities for full code execution. ZDI-CAN-17550 indicates professional vulnerability research.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 11.2.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.foxit.com/support/security-bulletins.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Foxit PDF Reader. 2. Go to Help > Check for Updates. 3. Follow prompts to install latest version. 4. Restart the application.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable JavaScript in Foxit Reader
allPrevents exploitation by disabling JavaScript execution in PDF files
File > Preferences > Security > Uncheck 'Enable JavaScript'
Use Protected View
windowsOpen untrusted PDFs in protected/sandboxed mode
File > Preferences > General > Check 'Open documents in Protected View'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Use alternative PDF readers that are not vulnerable
- Implement application whitelisting to block Foxit Reader execution
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Help > About Foxit Reader for version number. If version is 11.2.2.53575 or earlier, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
On Windows: wmic product where name="Foxit Reader" get versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 11.2.3 or later in Help > About Foxit Reader.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Application crashes in Foxit Reader
- Unusual JavaScript execution errors
- Memory access violation events
Network Indicators:
- Downloads of PDF files from suspicious sources
- HTTP requests to known exploit hosting domains
SIEM Query:
source="*foxit*" AND (event_id=1000 OR event_id=1001) AND message="*access violation*"