CVE-2024-25858
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Foxit PDF Reader and Editor allows remote code execution through malicious JavaScript embedded in PDF files. Attackers can exploit an unoptimized prompt message to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. Users running Foxit PDF Reader before 2024.1 or PDF Editor before 2024.1 are vulnerable.
💻 Affected Systems
- Foxit PDF Reader
- Foxit PDF Editor
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with attacker gaining full control over the victim's computer, enabling data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within networks.
Likely Case
Malware installation leading to data exfiltration, credential theft, or system disruption through malicious PDF files delivered via email or web downloads.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing, JavaScript disabled in PDF readers, and user awareness preventing malicious file execution.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction to open a malicious PDF file, but no authentication is needed once the file is opened.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2024.1
Vendor Advisory: https://www.foxit.com/support/security-bulletins.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Foxit PDF Reader/Editor. 2. Go to Help > Check for Updates. 3. Follow prompts to install version 2024.1 or later. 4. Restart the application after installation completes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable JavaScript in Foxit
allPrevents JavaScript execution in PDF files, blocking the attack vector
Open Foxit > File > Preferences > Security > Uncheck 'Enable JavaScript'
Use Alternative PDF Reader
allTemporarily switch to a different PDF reader that isn't affected
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to block unauthorized executables
- Deploy network filtering to block PDF downloads from untrusted sources
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Foxit version: Open Foxit > Help > About. If version is below 2024.1, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
On Windows: wmic product where name="Foxit PDF Reader" get versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm version is 2024.1 or higher in Help > About, then verify JavaScript settings in Preferences > Security.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Foxit process spawning unexpected child processes
- JavaScript execution errors in Foxit logs
- Multiple PDF file openings from unusual sources
Network Indicators:
- PDF downloads from suspicious domains
- Outbound connections from Foxit process to unknown IPs
SIEM Query:
process_name:"Foxit*.exe" AND (parent_process:cmd.exe OR child_process:powershell.exe)