How severe is CVE-2018-3842?

CVE-2018-3842 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2018-3842 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (87th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2018-3842?

CVE-2018-3842 affects Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2018-3842?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2018-3842 published?

CVE-2018-3842 was published on 2018-04-19 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2018-3842

CVE-2018-3842 is a high-severity vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-824.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
CVSS v2: 6.8
EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (87th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-824
Affected product: Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader
Published: 2018-04-19
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

An exploitable use of an uninitialized pointer vulnerability exists in the JavaScript engine in Foxit PDF Reader version 9.0.1.1049. A specially crafted PDF document can lead to a dereference of an uninitialized pointer which, if under attacker control, can result in arbitrary code execution. An attacker needs to trick the user to open a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability. If the browser plugin extension is enabled, visiting a malicious site can also trigger the vulnerability.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2018-3842?: An exploitable use of an uninitialized pointer vulnerability exists in the JavaScript engine in Foxit PDF Reader version 9.0.1.1049. A specially crafted PDF document can lead to a dereference of an uninitialized pointer which, if under attacker control, can result in arbitrary code execution. An attacker needs to trick the user to open a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability. If the browser plugin extension is enabled, visiting a malicious site can also trigger the vulnerability.
How severe is CVE-2018-3842?: CVE-2018-3842 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2018-3842 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (87th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2018-3842?: CVE-2018-3842 affects Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2018-3842?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2018-3842 published?: CVE-2018-3842 was published on 2018-04-19 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:foxit_reader:9.0.1.1049:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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