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CVE-2016-7855: Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free Vulnerability

85
Patch now
HIGH 8.8EXPLOITEDWATCHLISTUPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2016-7855 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) affecting flash player, 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.

Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 23.0.0.205 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.643 on Linux allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, as exploited in the wild in October 2016.

Why this priority

  • High severity
  • EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited
  • Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
  • On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score8.8 (High)
Attack vectorNetwork (remote)
Attack complexityLow
Privileges neededNone
User interactionRequired
EPSS exploit chance25.2% (top 2%)
CISA exploited listYes, fix due 2022-03-24
WeaknessCWE-416
Published2016-11-01
Last modified2026-06-17
Publisher (CNA): Adobe Systems Incorporated · Vendor: adobe · redhat

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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: <= 23.0.0.185
Fixed in: newer than 23.0.0.185
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 23.0.0.185 (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: <= 23.0.0.185
Fixed in: newer than 23.0.0.185
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 23.0.0.185 (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: <= 23.0.0.185
Fixed in: newer than 23.0.0.185
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 23.0.0.185 (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: <= 11.2.202.637
Fixed in: newer than 11.2.202.637
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 11.2.202.637 (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: <= 23.0.0.185
Fixed in: newer than 23.0.0.185
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 23.0.0.185 (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.
redhat enterprise linux desktop MITIGATE
Affected: 5.0 · 6.0
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.0
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.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.
Fedora 46 · perl-Spreadsheet-XLSX · FIXED · 0.20-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-064736b436 · source
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-064736b436
RHEL 5 Supplementary · flash-plugin · FIXED · flash-plugin-11.2.202.643-1.el5_11
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2016:2119 rpm -q flash-plugin
RHEL 6 Supplementary · flash-plugin · FIXED · flash-plugin-11.2.202.643-1.el6_8
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2016:2119 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-2016-7855?

flash player: upgrade to newer than 23.0.0.185; flash player: upgrade to newer than 23.0.0.185; flash player: upgrade to newer than 23.0.0.185. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2016-7855 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2016-7855 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2016-7855 affect?

CVE-2016-7855 affects flash player, flash player, flash player. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 23.0.0.205 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.643 on Linux allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, as exploited in the wild in October 2016.

How urgent is CVE-2016-7855?

Priority 85/100. High severity; EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); On your watchlist

Software pages

Windows vulnerabilities · Adobe Flash vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

References

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