How severe is CVE-2016-6987?

CVE-2016-6987 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2016-6987 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (91st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2016-6987?

CVE-2016-6987 primarily affects Adobe Flash Player. In total, 6 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2016-6987?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2016-6987 published?

CVE-2016-6987 was published on 2016-10-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2016-6987

CVE-2016-6987 is a high-severity vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-416.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
CVSS v2: 9.3
EPSS exploit prediction: 5% (91st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-416
Affected product: Adobe Flash Player
Published: 2016-10-13
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.382 and 19.x through 23.x before 23.0.0.185 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.637 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-6981.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-6987?: Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.382 and 19.x through 23.x before 23.0.0.185 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.637 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-6981.
How severe is CVE-2016-6987?: CVE-2016-6987 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2016-6987 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (91st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-6987?: CVE-2016-6987 primarily affects Adobe Flash Player. In total, 6 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-6987?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2016-6987 published?: CVE-2016-6987 was published on 2016-10-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (6)

cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:*:*:*:*:*:chrome:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:*:*:*:*:*:edge:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:*:*:*:*:*:internet_explorer:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:*:*:*:*:esr:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player_desktop_runtime:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:*:*:*:*:*:linux:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player

CVE-2015-8459 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.324 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.267 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.559 on…
CVE-2015-8457 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and…
CVE-2015-8455 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.554 on…
CVE-2015-8454 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and…
CVE-2015-8452 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and…
CVE-2015-8451 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.554 on…

All CVEs affecting Adobe Flash Player →

Other CWE-416 (Use After Free) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-13782 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Use after free in Browser in Google Chrome prior to 150.0.7871.47 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the…
CVE-2026-4725 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to use-after-free in the Graphics: Canvas2D component. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox 149…
CVE-2026-4688 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to use-after-free in the Disability Access APIs component. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox…
CVE-2025-24085 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3,…
CVE-2024-43102 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Concurrent removals of certain anonymous shared memory mappings by using the UMTX_SHM_DESTROY sub-request of…
CVE-2021-32495 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Radare2 has a use-after-free vulnerability in pyc parser's get_none_object function. Attacker can read freed memory…

Browse all CWE-416 (Use After Free) vulnerabilities →