CVE-2016-7855
CVE-2016-7855 is a high-severity vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming it has been exploited in the wild (added 2022-03-03). 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: 25% (98th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Yes — listed in CISA KEV (added 2022-03-03)
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2016-8704
- EU exploitation: Flagged exploited in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (since 2022-03-03)
- Weakness: CWE-416
- Affected product: Adobe Flash Player
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
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.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2016-7855?
- 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 severe is CVE-2016-7855?
- CVE-2016-7855 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-2016-7855 being actively exploited?
- Yes. CVE-2016-7855 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2022-03-03, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.
- What products are affected by CVE-2016-7855?
- CVE-2016-7855 primarily affects Adobe Flash Player. In total, 11 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2016-7855?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Because this CVE is known to be actively exploited, treat remediation as urgent — CISA KEV typically sets a short remediation deadline.
- Does CVE-2016-7855 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2016-7855 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2016-8704. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2022-03-03).
- When was CVE-2016-7855 published?
- CVE-2016-7855 was published on 2016-11-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2119.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93861
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037111
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-128
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb16-36.html
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201610-10
- https://security.googleblog.com/2016/10/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-7855
Affected products (11)
- 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:*:*:*:*:*:linux:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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
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- 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…