CVE-2016-1019: Adobe Flash Player Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability

Q: How do I fix CVE-2016-1019?

flash player desktop runtime: upgrade to newer than 21.0.0.197; flash player: upgrade to newer than 18.0.0.333; flash player: upgrade to newer than 21.0.0.197. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2016-1019 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2016-1019 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

Q: What does CVE-2016-1019 affect?

CVE-2016-1019 affects flash player desktop runtime, flash player, flash player. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.197 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, as exploited in the wild in April 2016.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2016-1019?

Priority 94/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Used in ransomware campaigns; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Patch now

CRITICAL 9.8EXPLOITEDREMOTEUPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2016-1019 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting flash player desktop runtime, flash player, flash player, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.197 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, as exploited in the wild in April 2016.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Used in ransomware campaigns
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	22.3% (top 2%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2022-03-24, used in ransomware
Published	2016-04-07
Last modified	2026-10-01

Publisher (CNA): Adobe Systems Incorporated · Vendor: adobe

Last updated 2026-10-01 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2016-04-07 10:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2022-03-03Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2022-03-24Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-10-01 20:17 UTCUpdated Record last modified

adobe flash player desktop runtime UPGRADE

Affected: <= 21.0.0.197

Fixed in: newer than 21.0.0.197

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy flash-player-desktop-runtime || rpm -q flash-player-desktop-runtime || flash-player-desktop-runtime --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 21.0.0.197 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade flash-player-desktop-runtime

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade flash-player-desktop-runtime

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

adobe flash player UPGRADE

Affected: <= 18.0.0.333 · <= 11.2.202.577

Fixed in: newer than 18.0.0.333

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy flash-player || rpm -q flash-player || flash-player --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 18.0.0.333 (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.

adobe flash player UPGRADE

Affected: <= 21.0.0.197

Fixed in: newer than 21.0.0.197

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy flash-player || rpm -q flash-player || flash-player --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 21.0.0.197 (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.

adobe flash player UPGRADE

Affected: <= 21.0.0.197

Fixed in: newer than 21.0.0.197

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy flash-player || rpm -q flash-player || flash-player --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 21.0.0.197 (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.

adobe flash player UPGRADE

Affected: <= 21.0.0.197

Fixed in: newer than 21.0.0.197

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy flash-player || rpm -q flash-player || flash-player --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 21.0.0.197 (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.

adobe air desktop runtime UPGRADE

Affected: <= 21.0.0.176

Fixed in: newer than 21.0.0.176

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy air-desktop-runtime || rpm -q air-desktop-runtime || air-desktop-runtime --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 21.0.0.176 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade air-desktop-runtime

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade air-desktop-runtime

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

Exact fixes by distribution

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-11.2.202.616-1.el5

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2016:0610 rpm -q flash-plugin

RHEL 6 Supplementary · flash-plugin · FIXED · flash-plugin-11.2.202.616-1.el6_7

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2016:0610 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.

GitHub PoC: Live-Hack-CVE/CVE-2016-1019

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-2016-1019?

flash player desktop runtime: upgrade to newer than 21.0.0.197; flash player: upgrade to newer than 18.0.0.333; flash player: upgrade to newer than 21.0.0.197. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2016-1019 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2016-1019 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2016-1019 affect?

CVE-2016-1019 affects flash player desktop runtime, flash player, flash player. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.197 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, as exploited in the wild in April 2016.

How urgent is CVE-2016-1019?

Priority 94/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Used in ransomware campaigns; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

Adobe Flash vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2020-9633 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE UPGRADE Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime 32.0.0.371 and earlier, Adobe Flash Player for Google Chrome 32.0.0.371 and
CVE-2019-8075 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE UPGRADE Adobe Flash Player version 32.0.0.192 and earlier versions have a Same Origin Policy Bypass vulnerability
CVE-2019-8070 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE UPGRADE Adobe Flash Player 32.0.0.238 and earlier versions, 32.0.0.207 and earlier versions have a Use after free vuln
CVE-2019-8069 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE UPGRADE Adobe Flash Player 32.0.0.238 and earlier versions, 32.0.0.207 and earlier versions have a Same Origin Method
CVE-2019-7837 HIGH 8.8 UPGRADE UPGRADE Adobe Flash Player versions 32.0.0.171 and earlier, 32.0.0.171 and earlier, and 32.0.0.171 and earlier have a

References

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