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CVE-2015-0311: Adobe Flash Player Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

99
Patch now
CRITICAL 9.8EXPLOITEDREMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2015-0311 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting flash player, linux enterprise desktop, linux enterprise workstation extension, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player through 13.0.0.262 and 14.x, 15.x, and 16.x through 16.0.0.287 on Windows and OS X and through 11.2.202.438 on Linux allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, as exploited in the wild in January 2015.

Why this priority

  • Critical severity
  • EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
  • Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
  • Public exploit reference
  • Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
  • On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score9.8 (Critical)
Attack vectorNetwork (remote)
Attack complexityLow
Privileges neededNone
User interactionNone
EPSS exploit chance85.6% (top 1%)
CISA exploited listYes, fix due 2022-05-04
Published2015-01-23
Last modified2026-06-17
Publisher (CNA): Adobe Systems Incorporated · Vendor: adobe · microsoft · suse

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Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

adobe flash player UPGRADE
Affected: <= 11.2.202.438 · <= 13.0.0.262 · >= 14.0.0.125 and < 16.0.0.287
Fixed in: 16.0.0.287
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 14.0.0.125
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy flash-player || rpm -q flash-player || flash-player --version
2. UPGRADE to 16.0.0.287 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade flash-player
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade flash-player
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 14.0.0.125 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison flash-player sudo apt install flash-player=<VERSION_BEFORE_14.0.0.125> sudo apt-mark hold flash-player
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list flash-player sudo dnf downgrade flash-player-<VERSION_BEFORE_14.0.0.125> sudo dnf versionlock add flash-player
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
suse linux enterprise desktop MITIGATE
Affected: 11 sp3 · 12
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
suse linux enterprise workstation extension MITIGATE
Affected: 12
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
microsoft internet explorer DOWNGRADE
Affected: 10 · 11
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy internet-explorer || rpm -q internet-explorer || internet-explorer --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 10 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison internet-explorer sudo apt install internet-explorer=<VERSION_BEFORE_10> sudo apt-mark hold internet-explorer
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list internet-explorer sudo dnf downgrade internet-explorer-<VERSION_BEFORE_10> sudo dnf versionlock add internet-explorer
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
microsoft edge MITIGATE
Affected: all versions
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy edge || rpm -q edge || edge --version
No fixed or unaffected release known
Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.
Fedora 46 · perl-Net-IDN-Encode · FIXED · 2.600-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-84eff0ea64 · source
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-84eff0ea64
Fedora ELN · libXISF · FIXED · 0.2.15-2.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-b9e2d1bda0 · source
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-b9e2d1bda0
RHEL 5 Supplementary · flash-plugin · FIXED · flash-plugin-11.2.202.440-1.el5
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2015:0094 rpm -q flash-plugin

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2015-0311?

flash player: upgrade to 16.0.0.287; linux enterprise desktop: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; linux enterprise workstation extension: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2015-0311 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2015-0311 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2015-0311 affect?

CVE-2015-0311 affects flash player, linux enterprise desktop, linux enterprise workstation extension. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player through 13.0.0.262 and 14.x, 15.x, and 16.x through 16.0.0.287 on Windows and OS X and through 11.2.202.438 on Linux allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, as e

How urgent is CVE-2015-0311?

Priority 99/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Windows vulnerabilities · Microsoft Edge vulnerabilities · Adobe Flash vulnerabilities · Internet Explorer vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

References

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