How severe is CVE-2018-15981?

CVE-2018-15981 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2018-15981 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 12% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2018-15981?

CVE-2018-15981 primarily affects Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime. In total, 7 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2018-15981?

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

When was CVE-2018-15981 published?

CVE-2018-15981 was published on 2018-11-29 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2018-15981

CVE-2018-15981 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 12% places it in the 96th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-704.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
CVSS v2: 10.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 12% (96th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-704
Affected product: Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime
Published: 2018-11-29
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Flash Player versions 31.0.0.148 and earlier have a type confusion vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2018-15981?: Flash Player versions 31.0.0.148 and earlier have a type confusion vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
How severe is CVE-2018-15981?: CVE-2018-15981 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2018-15981 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 12% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2018-15981?: CVE-2018-15981 primarily affects Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime. In total, 7 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2018-15981?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2018-15981 published?: CVE-2018-15981 was published on 2018-11-29 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (7)

cpe:2.3:a:adobe:flash_player_desktop_runtime:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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_11:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime

CVE-2014-0564 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.250 and 14.x and 15.x before 15.0.0.189 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.411 on…
CVE-2020-9633 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime 32.0.0.371 and earlier, Adobe Flash Player for Google Chrome 32.0.0.371 and earlier,…
CVE-2019-8070 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Adobe Flash Player 32.0.0.238 and earlier versions, 32.0.0.207 and earlier versions have a Use after free…
CVE-2019-8069 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Adobe Flash Player 32.0.0.238 and earlier versions, 32.0.0.207 and earlier versions have a Same Origin Method Execution…
CVE-2019-7096 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Adobe Flash Player versions 32.0.0.156 and earlier, 32.0.0.156 and earlier, and 32.0.0.156 and earlier have an use…
CVE-2016-4163 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.352 and 19.x through 21.x before 21.0.0.242 on Windows and OS X and before…

All CVEs affecting Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime →

Other CWE-704 (Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast) vulnerabilities

CVE-2015-3120 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Adobe Flash Player before 13.0.0.302 and 14.x through 18.x before 18.0.0.203 on Windows and OS X and before…
CVE-2025-41648 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An unauthenticated remote attacker can bypass the login to the web application of the affected devices making it…
CVE-2025-41646 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An unauthorized remote attacker can bypass the authentication of the affected software package by misusing an incorrect…
CVE-2021-33318 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An Input Validation Vulnerability exists in Joel Christner .NET C# packages WatsonWebserver, IpMatcher 1.0.4.1 and…
CVE-2020-25576 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): An issue was discovered in the rand_core crate before 0.4.2 for Rust. Casting of byte slices to integer slices…
CVE-2020-6151 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A memory corruption vulnerability exists in the TIFF handle_COMPRESSION_PACKBITS functionality of Accusoft ImageGear…

Browse all CWE-704 (Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast) vulnerabilities →