HIGH
CVE-2020-26540
CWE-347Published: October 2, 2020· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
7.5
CVSS v3.1
Official Description
An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 4.1 on macOS. Because the Hardened Runtime protection mechanism is not applied to code signing, code injection (or an information leak) can occur.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2020-26540 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityNone
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Affected Vendors & Products
Apple1 product(s)
macos
foxitsoftware2 product(s)
foxit readerphantompdf
Source: NVD CPE · 3 total CPE entries
Exploit & PoC Resources
NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (2)
→
https://www.foxitsoftware.com/support/security-bulletins.htmlPatch · Vendor Advisory
→
https://www.foxitsoftware.com/support/security-bulletins.htmlPatch · Vendor Advisory
Quick Facts
CVE IDCVE-2020-26540
CVSS Score7.5 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-347
CISA KEVNo
Affected2 vendor(s)
PublishedOct 2, 2020
Related CVEs (CWE-347)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2020-26540 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.