Skip to main content
Public proof of concept

CVE-2023-40194

A public proof of concept exists; no exploitation attested.

  • Published2023-11-27
  • WeaknessCWE-610 · CWE-73

Am I affected?

With a domain, we read the version its public headers and pages expose. A distribution build can carry the fix under an older number.

Description

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 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.

Timeline

dates in UTC
  1. 2023-11-2716:15CVE publishedNVD

Versions per branch

NVD
Foxitsoftware foxit reader
BranchAffectedFixed in
12.1= 12.1.3.15356no fix published

as publishedRanges as NVD and OSV publish them; a distribution’s build can be fixed under an older number.

Products declared by the CNA1 product

As talos, the CNA that assigned this CVE, declared them in the CVE record; versions as written.

  • Foxit Reader
    Affected
    • = 12.1.3.15356no fix stated

Source: the CNA record (CVE Program), © The MITRE Corporation,CVE Terms of UseCVE recordupdated 2023-11-27

Fix

No fix published by the sources we read yet. NVD record

Detection

Nuclei template
none so far
ProjectDiscovery
Exploit-DB
no entry
Exploit-DB
Proof of concept
Metasploit modules
none listed
Metasploit Framework

Sources

  • CISA-ADPSSVC decisionpoc2024-10-10
  • CNACVSS 3.18.8known since 2026-10-23
  • NVDCVSS 3.18.8read 2026-10-23
  • CNAweakness (CWE)CWE-73known since 2026-10-23
  • NVDweakness (CWE)CWE-610read 2026-10-23
  • FIRST EPSSEPSS score2.0 %2026-11-08
  • GitHub Advisoriesadvisory—

Identifiers

Technical details

CVSS v3 Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Published
2023-11-27
Last Modified
2026-06-17
NVD status
Modified
GitHub Advisory
GHSA-973j-jf94-fmwp

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-40194?

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 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.

Is CVE-2023-40194 actively exploited?

A proof-of-concept exploit exists for CVE-2023-40194, but active exploitation has not been confirmed at this time.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2023-40194?

CVE-2023-40194 has a CVSS v3 base score of 8.8 (HIGH severity), with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Hear about the next vulnerability in your software

Surveillance reads the versions in your stack — a domain, a lockfile or a list — checks each CVE against the ranges its sources publish, and alerts you when one you run is exploited or enters CISA KEV. A version it cannot read stays « version not verified ».

Get alerts for this productCISA KEV additions, November 2026Search CVEs

No credit card required · No monthly cap on website lookups · 250 API requests/month

Go further

Related vulnerabilities

Same product first, then the same vendor advisory and the same publication week.

Back to CVE Database

Sources for this record