What is CVE-2009-0836?

CVE-2009-0836 is a vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Reader, classified under Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Published 2009-03-10.

Is CVE-2009-0836 known to be exploited?

3 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Buffer overflow in Foxitsoftware Reader

CVE-2009-0836

Foxit Reader 2.3 before Build 3902 and 3.0 before Build 1506, including 1120 and 1301, does not require user confirmation before performing dangerous actions defined in a PDF file, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary programs and have unspecified other impact via a crafted file, as demonstrated by the "Open/Execute a file" action.

Vulnerability class: Buffer Overflow

Published 2009-03-10 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v2 metric

CVSS v2 base score 10.0 (High). Vector: AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C. This CVE predates CVSS v3 and has no v3 score from NVD.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.409 (98.6th percentile), scored 2026-09-28.

Moderate probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — watch for active exploitation reports. 99th percentile — 98.6% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.409 · newest: 0.409 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Foxitsoftware Reader — versions 2.3, 3.0

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-119 — Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/501623/100/0/threaded (mailing-list)
secunia.com/advisories/34036 (Vendor Advisory, third-party-advisory)
lists.immunitysec.com/pipermail/dailydave/2010-April/006079.html (mailing-list)
www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0634 (vdb-entry, Vendor Advisory)
www.securitytracker.com/id (vdb-entry)
www.securityfocus.com/bid/34035 (vdb-entry, Vendor Advisory)
blog.zoller.lu/2009/03/remote-code-execution-in-pdf-still.html
www.coresecurity.com/content/foxit-reader-vulnerabilities (Vendor Advisory)
www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/security.htm (Patch, Vendor Advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-0836?: CVE-2009-0836 is a vulnerability in Foxitsoftware Reader, classified under Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Published 2009-03-10.
Is CVE-2009-0836 known to be exploited?: 3 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.