CVE-2018-5002: Adobe Flash Player Stack-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Q: How do I fix CVE-2018-5002?

flash player desktop runtime: upgrade to newer than 29.0.0.171; flash player: upgrade to newer than 29.0.0.171; flash player: upgrade to newer than 29.0.0.171. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2018-5002 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2018-5002 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

Q: What does CVE-2018-5002 affect?

CVE-2018-5002 affects flash player desktop runtime, flash player, flash player. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). Adobe Flash Player versions 29.0.0.171 and earlier have a Stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2018-5002?

Priority 82/100. High severity; EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); On your watchlist

Patch now

HIGH 7.8EXPLOITEDWATCHLISTUPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2018-5002 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) 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 versions 29.0.0.171 and earlier have a Stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.

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 score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	24.4% (top 2%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2022-06-13
Weakness	CWE-787, CWE-121
Published	2018-07-09
Last modified	2026-06-17

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

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-07-09 19:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2022-05-23Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2022-06-13Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-06-17 01:59 UTCUpdated Record last modified

adobe flash player desktop runtime UPGRADE

Affected: <= 29.0.0.171

Fixed in: newer than 29.0.0.171

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 29.0.0.171 (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: <= 29.0.0.171

Fixed in: newer than 29.0.0.171

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 29.0.0.171 (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: <= 29.0.0.171

Fixed in: newer than 29.0.0.171

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 29.0.0.171 (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: <= 29.0.0.171

Fixed in: newer than 29.0.0.171

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 29.0.0.171 (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: 6.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0

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.

redhat enterprise linux server MITIGATE

Affected: 6.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0

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 · root · FIXED · 6.40.04-6.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-deac340022 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-deac340022

Fedora ELN · man-pages · FIXED · 6.20-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-f1f5fb11b4 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-f1f5fb11b4

RHEL 6 Supplementary · flash-plugin · FIXED · flash-plugin-30.0.0.113-1.el6_9

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2018:1827 rpm -q flash-plugin

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-2018-5002?

flash player desktop runtime: upgrade to newer than 29.0.0.171; flash player: upgrade to newer than 29.0.0.171; flash player: upgrade to newer than 29.0.0.171. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-5002 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2018-5002 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2018-5002 affect?

CVE-2018-5002 affects flash player desktop runtime, flash player, flash player. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). Adobe Flash Player versions 29.0.0.171 and earlier have a Stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.

How urgent is CVE-2018-5002?

Priority 82/100. High severity; EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); On your watchlist

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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