Cyber Resilience

CVE-2020-13557

Memory Safety in Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader 10.1.0.37527

Public PoCHigh EPSSMemory Safety
Published
22 December 2020
Modified
21 November 2024
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.70 99.3th percentile
Risk Priority 87 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2020-13557 is a high-severity Use After Free (CWE-416) vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.7% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A use after free vulnerability exists in the JavaScript engine of Foxit Software’s Foxit PDF Reader, version 10.1.0.37527. A specially crafted PDF document can trigger reuse of previously free memory which can lead to arbitrary code execution. An attacker needs…

more

to trick the user to open the malicious file to trigger this vulnerability. If the browser plugin extension is enabled, visiting a malicious site can also trigger the vulnerability.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Executionconfidence: HIGH
Use-after-free in the PDF reader's JavaScript engine enables arbitrary code execution when the user opens a malicious PDF.
T1189 Drive-by Compromise Initial Accessconfidence: HIGH
Browser plugin extension allows the vulnerability to be triggered simply by visiting a malicious website.
T1204.002 Malicious File Executionconfidence: HIGH
Successful exploitation requires the user to open the specially crafted malicious PDF file.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-32616Same product: Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader
CVE-2023-38573Same product: Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader
CVE-2020-13548Same product: Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader
CVE-2018-9958Same product: Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader
CVE-2025-1916Shared CWE-416
CVE-2025-1884Shared CWE-416
CVE-2024-56554Shared CWE-416
CVE-2026-9114Shared CWE-416
CVE-2023-35693Shared CWE-416
CVE-2023-42104Shared CWE-416

Affected Assets

foxitsoftware
foxit reader
10.1.0.37527

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 3 hardening rules · 3 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.4.3

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-416

Use-after-free exploits that achieve arbitrary code execution are blocked or significantly hardened by non-executable pages and ASLR.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly incorporate memory-safety tooling and reviews that prevent most use-after-free defects.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability identification processes can discover use-after-free issues via scanning or analysis but do not prevent their introduction.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Routine patching removes known use-after-free instances after they have been introduced in released software.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Security testing in development can detect use-after-free bugs before release.

prevents

Secure SDLC mandates memory-safety practices that reduce use-after-free defects.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify memory-management rules that mitigate use-after-free.

prevents

Secure architecture principles include memory-safety design choices that limit use-after-free exposure.

prevents

Secure coding standards directly prescribe avoidance of use-after-free patterns.

prevents

Change-management processes help ensure memory-safety fixes are deployed consistently.

References