Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-40194

HighPublic PoC

Published: 27 November 2023

Published
27 November 2023
Modified
04 November 2025
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0002 6.4th percentile
Risk Priority 18 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2023-40194 is a high-severity External Control of File Name or Path (CWE-73) vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Foxit Reader. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked at the 6.4th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

An arbitrary file creation vulnerability exists in the Javascript exportDataObject API of Foxit Reader 12.1.3.15356 due to mistreatment of whitespace characters. A specially crafted malicious file can create files at arbitrary locations, which can lead to arbitrary code execution. An…

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attacker needs to trick the user into opening the malicious file to trigger this vulnerability. Exploitation is also possible if a user visits a specially crafted, malicious site if the browser plugin extension is enabled.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.

Affected Assets

foxitsoftware
foxit reader
12.1.3.15356

Mitigating Controls

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-73

Rejects externally supplied file or resource identifiers that fail validity checks.

addresses: CWE-610

Limits impact of an externally controlled reference to a primary information resource by switching to an identified alternative.

References