CVE-2020-8845

CVE-2020-8845 is a high-severity vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Reader with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 19% places it in the 97th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-416.

Key facts

• Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.8)
• CVSS v2: 6.8
• EPSS exploit prediction: 19% (97th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-416
• Affected product: Foxitsoftware Reader
• Published: 2020-02-14
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

This vulnerability allows remote atackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Foxit PhantomPDF 9.6.0.25114. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of watermarks in AcroForms. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing operations on the object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-9358.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-8845?

This vulnerability allows remote atackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Foxit PhantomPDF 9.6.0.25114. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of watermarks in AcroForms. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing operations on the object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-9358.

How severe is CVE-2020-8845?

CVE-2020-8845 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-8845 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 19% (97th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-8845?

CVE-2020-8845 primarily affects Foxitsoftware Reader. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-8845?

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-2020-8845 published?

CVE-2020-8845 was published on 2020-02-14 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• https://www.foxitsoftware.com/support/security-bulletins.php
• https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-201/

Affected products (2)

• cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:reader:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:foxitsoftware:phantompdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Foxitsoftware Reader

• CVE-2009-0836 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Foxit Reader 2.3 before Build 3902 and 3.0 before Build 1506, including 1120 and 1301, does not require user…
• CVE-2019-20830 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 9.6. It has an out-of-bounds write when Internet Explorer…
• CVE-2019-20827 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in Foxit PhantomPDF Mac 3.3 and Foxit Reader for Mac before 3.3. It allows stack consumption…
• CVE-2020-13814 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 9.7.1. It has a use-after-free via a document that lacks…
• CVE-2020-13805 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 9.7.2. It has brute-force attack mishandling because the…
• CVE-2020-13804 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 9.7.2. It allows information disclosure of a hardcoded…

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Other CWE-416 (Use After Free) vulnerabilities

• CVE-2026-13782 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Use after free in Browser in Google Chrome prior to 150.0.7871.47 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the…
• CVE-2026-4725 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to use-after-free in the Graphics: Canvas2D component. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox 149…
• CVE-2026-4688 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to use-after-free in the Disability Access APIs component. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox…
• CVE-2025-24085 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3,…
• CVE-2024-43102 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Concurrent removals of certain anonymous shared memory mappings by using the UMTX_SHM_DESTROY sub-request of…
• CVE-2021-32495 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Radare2 has a use-after-free vulnerability in pyc parser's get_none_object function. Attacker can read freed memory…

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