Is CVE-2018-17685 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2018-17685 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2018-17685 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2018-17685 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-17685?

CVE-2018-17685 has a CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH).

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HIGH

CVE-2018-17685

CWE-843Published: January 24, 2019· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

8.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Foxit Reader 9.2.0.9297. 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 PDF files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a type confusion condition. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-6819.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2018-17685 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

Exploitation does not require any privileges, though user interaction (Required) is needed, which slightly reduces the risk of mass automated attacks.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 8.8.