CriticalCVE-2016-1019

Adobe Flash Player Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2016-1019)

Published 07.04.2016Last modified 01.10.2026In CISA KEV since 03.03.2022Sources: CVE.org

What is affected, what to do

Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.197 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, as exploited in the wild in April 2016.

The vulnerability is being actively exploited; treat it as a priority. CISA lists it as used in ransomware campaigns. The available sources name no fixed version. Check the vendor guidance in the references below. Immediate actions, mitigation and detection rules are in the runbook below.

Affected: Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime lte *..21.0.0.197
Adobe Flash Player lte *..18.0.0.333
Adobe Flash Player lte *..21.0.0.197
Adobe Flash Player lte *..11.2.202.577
Adobe AIR Desktop Runtime lte *..21.0.0.176
Adobe AIR SDK lte *..21.0.0.176
Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler lte *..21.0.0.176

Not sure whether and how you are affected? Ask a question about this vulnerability

Metrics

9.8

Priority

XIEM Effective CVSS: highest available CVSS rating from NVD and vendor data.

Source: NVD, CVSS v3

9.8

CVSS v3

Severity Critical on the scale from 0 to 10.

Source: CVE.org

22.3 %

EPSS score

Elevated — model estimates 10-50% exploitation likelihood.

Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 97.7

Show all metrics

Severity: Critical
Priority (0–325) The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first? Read in glossary: 250.33 Methodology
Exploit maturity An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack. Read in glossary: actively exploited
XIEM Effective CVSS XIEM® is the tiered managed-security operating model from NEOSEC and a registered trademark of NEOSEC GmbH. It extends classic SIEM — the central collection, normalisation and correlation of security-relevant events — with endpoint forensics, network visibility and deception technology, and consolidates them into three building tiers: Sentry, Orchestrate and Command. Read in glossary: 9.8 Methodology
CVSS v3 CVSS is the globally established, open standard for assessing the technical severity of a vulnerability on a scale from 0 to 10. It describes how easily a flaw can be exploited and what damage it can cause — but not how likely its actual exploitation is. CVSS and the complementary EPSS deliberately answer different questions. Read in glossary: 9.8
EPSS score The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“. Read in glossary: 22.3 %; Elevated — model estimates 10-50% exploitation likelihood.
EPSS percentile The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking. Read in glossary: 97.7; Critical — this CVE ranks in the top fifth of all CVEs scored today (rank ≥ 80%).
KEV status The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching. Read in glossary: Actively exploited
Published: 07.04.2016
In CISA KEV since The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching. Read in glossary: 03.03.2022
CISA assessment (SSVC): Exploitation: active · not automatable · Technical impact: total; Source: CISA Vulnrichment, as of 1 October 2026

Response and mitigation

Why act now?

Prioritisation rationale

The flaw is network-reachable without authentication and in practice only requires the victim to load a crafted page or malvertising banner, which is why it was used at scale in 2016 drive-by campaigns delivered through exploit kits, and CISA flags known use in ransomware campaigns. Its exploitation likelihood still ranks among the highest of all published CVEs, and typical targets are internet-facing workstations and neglected legacy hosts. Because Flash is end-of-life, every remaining installation is a permanently open critical hole: remediate internet-connected hosts immediately, and log any isolated OT or line-of-business systems that still depend on Flash in the risk register with a high-priority migration plan.

01
Runbook step 1
Immediate response (0-24 h)
- Build an inventory: Use EDR or software inventory to locate every endpoint and server with Adobe Flash Player (ActiveX Flash.ocx, NPAPI NPSWF*.dll, PPAPI pepflashplayer*.dll), Adobe AIR desktop runtime or AIR SDK. The advisory lists Flash Player 21.0.0.197 and earlier (including the 18.0.0.333 and 11.2.202.577 branches) and AIR 21.0.0.176.
- Remove Flash rather than patch it: Flash Player has been end-of-life since late 2020 and receives no further security fixes. A vendor patch did exist (look up the fixed version in the vendor advisory), but any remaining installation is unmaintained legacy software. Push removal via Adobe's uninstaller or Microsoft's Flash removal update (look up the KB number in the Microsoft Update Catalog).
- Isolate Flash-dependent systems: Where line-of-business apps (HMIs, legacy web consoles, training software) genuinely require Flash, move those hosts into a segment without internet access and prohibit web browsing on them.
- Update or remove Adobe AIR: Upgrade AIR runtime/SDK to a vendor-maintained release, or uninstall it where no business application depends on it.
- Check for compromise: On hosts that recently ran a vulnerable Flash build with internet access, review EDR telemetry for suspicious browser child processes and encryption activity (see detection).
02
Runbook step 2
Mitigation layers
- Browser configuration (GPO/MDM): Block plug-in execution centrally — Chrome/Edge: disable Flash via DefaultPluginsSetting/PluginsBlockedForUrls; Internet Explorer: set the ActiveX kill bit for Flash CLSID {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000}; Firefox: plugin.state.flash = 0.
- Web proxy / secure web gateway: Block responses with MIME type application/x-shockwave-flash and .swf extensions; allowlist only documented internal legacy applications.
- Network segmentation: For isolated Flash legacy hosts, permit outbound HTTP/HTTPS (TCP 80/443) only to defined internal destinations; default-deny to the internet.
- Endpoint hardening: Enable Attack Surface Reduction rules or equivalent EDR policies that block script interpreters and executables spawned by browser and Office processes; run users without local admin rights.
- Application control: AppLocker/WDAC rule denying load of Flash.ocx, NPSWF*.dll and FlashPlayerPlugin_*.exe to stop users reinstalling the plug-in.
03
Runbook step 3
Detection rules
- Process ancestry (Sysmon EID 1 / Security 4688): Browser or Flash plug-in process spawning a shell or LOLBin. Sigma shape: ParentImage|endswith: ['\iexplore.exe','\FlashPlayerPlugin_*.exe','\plugin-container.exe','\chrome.exe'] AND Image|endswith: ['\cmd.exe','\powershell.exe','\wscript.exe','\mshta.exe','\rundll32.exe','\regsvr32.exe'].
- Module loads (Sysmon EID 7): Inventory and alert on ImageLoaded containing Flash.ocx, NPSWF32*.dll or pepflashplayer*.dll — after removal this should return zero hits. KQL: DeviceImageLoadEvents | where FileName has_any ("Flash.ocx","NPSWF","pepflashplayer").
- Network (Zeek/Suricata/proxy): files.log entries with mime_type == "application/x-shockwave-flash" from external sources, especially when followed within seconds by an executable download (application/x-dosexec) to the same client — the classic exploit-kit drive-by chain.
- Ransomware follow-on activity: Security 4688/Sysmon EID 1 showing vssadmin delete shadows, wbadmin delete catalog or bcdedit /set recoveryenabled no; Sysmon EID 11 bursts of file renames or ransom notes in user profiles.
- Crash indicators: Application Event 1000 (Application Error) with faulting module Flash.ocx/NPSWF*.dll may reveal failed exploitation attempts.

Detection rules

No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.

Classification under NIS2 and CRA

Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.

NIS2 NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management. Read in glossary: Actively exploited: treat the vulnerability as a priority in vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2. If it is exploited in your environment, check the reporting obligation under Art. 23 (early warning within 24 hours).
CRA The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates. Read in glossary: Since 11.09.2026, manufacturers of affected products with digital elements must report actively exploited vulnerabilities under Art. 14 CRA, with an early warning within 24 hours via ENISA's single reporting platform.
ISO/IEC 27001 ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security. Read in glossary: Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.

Description

Source: cvelistv5, NVD (NIST), CISA KEV Catalog, CVE.org (MITRE)

Affected products

The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.

Affected products
		Affected versions	Fixed in
adobe	air_desktop_runtime	`≤ 21.0.0.176`	—
adobe	air_sdk	`≤ 21.0.0.176`	—
adobe	air_sdk_\&_compiler	`≤ 21.0.0.176`	—
adobe	flash_player	`≤ 21.0.0.197` `≤ 18.0.0.333` `≤ 11.2.202.577`	— — —
adobe	flash_player_desktop_runtime	`≤ 21.0.0.197`	—

Vendors and products

Public exploit references

Publicly reported proof-of-concepts, exploit modules and detection templates for this vulnerability. NEOSEC links to the original sources only and does not provide any exploit code.

Public exploit references

CISA KEV Catalog	CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability (opens in a new tab)cisa.gov	actively exploited	03.03.2022

References & sources

fireeye.comblog/threat-research/2016/04/cve-2016-1019_a_new.htmlx_refsource_MISC
security.gentoo.orgGLSA-201606-08Vendor advisory, x_refsource_GENTOO
lists.opensuse.orgopenSUSE-SU-2016:0997Vendor advisory, x_refsource_SUSE
helpx.adobe.comsecurity/products/flash-player/apsa16-01.htmlx_refsource_CONFIRM
lists.opensuse.orgSUSE-SU-2016:0990Vendor advisory, x_refsource_SUSE
securitytracker.com1035491Vulnerability database, x_refsource_SECTRACK
lists.opensuse.orgSUSE-SU-2016:1305Vendor advisory, x_refsource_SUSE
blogs.adobe.compsirt/?p=1330x_refsource_CONFIRM
lists.opensuse.orgopenSUSE-SU-2016:0987Vendor advisory, x_refsource_SUSE
lists.opensuse.orgopenSUSE-SU-2016:1306Vendor advisory, x_refsource_SUSE
lists.opensuse.orgopenSUSE-SU-2016:1157Vendor advisory, x_refsource_SUSE
rhn.redhat.comRHSA-2016:0610Vendor advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
docs.microsoft.comMS16-050Vendor advisory, x_refsource_MS
helpx.adobe.comsecurity/products/flash-player/apsb16-10.htmlx_refsource_CONFIRM
securityfocus.com85856Vulnerability database, x_refsource_BID
cisa.govknown-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-1019government-resource
github.comcisagov/vulnrichment/issues/196Issue tracking

Changes to this CVE

Who changed this CVE and when: NVD (analysis, affected products, CVSS), the CVE publisher (CNA) and additional providers such as CISA (ADP).

01.10.2026Record modifiedAdobe

New references:

and 8 more references

Show 45 original changes

Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
Type	Action	Before	After
Reference	added	—	http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/?p=1330
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00009.html
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00010.html
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00012.html
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00055.html
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00044.html
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00045.html
Reference	added	—	http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0610.html
Reference	added	—	http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/85856
Reference	added	—	http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035491
Reference	added	—	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-050
Reference	added	—	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa16-01.html
Reference	added	—	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb16-10.html
Reference	added	—	https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201606-08
Reference	added	—	https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2016/04/cve-2016-1019_a_new.html
Reference	removed	http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/?p=1330	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00009.html	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00010.html	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00012.html	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00055.html	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00044.html	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00045.html	—
Reference	removed	http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0610.html	—
Reference	removed	http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/85856	—
Reference	removed	http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035491	—
Reference	removed	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-050	—
Reference	removed	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa16-01.html	—
Reference	removed	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb16-10.html	—
Reference	removed	https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201606-08	—
Reference	removed	https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2016/04/cve-2016-1019_a_new.html	—
Reference type	removed	http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/?p=1330 Types: Broken Link, Vendor Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00009.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00010.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00012.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00055.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00044.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00045.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0610.html Types: Third Party Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/85856 Types: Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry	—
Reference type	removed	http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035491 Types: Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry	—
Reference type	removed	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-050 Types: Patch, Third Party Advisory, Vendor Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa16-01.html Types: Vendor Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb16-10.html Types: Vendor Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201606-08 Types: Third Party Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2016/04/cve-2016-1019_a_new.html Types: Broken Link	—

Source identifier: psirt@adobe.com

01.10.2026Record modifiedCISA ADP

CISA assessment (SSVC): exploitation: active, automatable: no

New references:

Show 8 original changes

Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
Type	Action	Before	After
Reference	added	—	https://github.com/cisagov/vulnrichment/issues/196
Reference	added	—	https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-1019
Reference	removed	https://github.com/cisagov/vulnrichment/issues/196	—
Reference	removed	https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-1019	—
Reference type	removed	https://github.com/cisagov/vulnrichment/issues/196 Types: Issue Tracking	—
Reference type	removed	https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-1019 Types: US Government Resource	—
SSVC assessment	removed	{"id":"CVE-2016-1019","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"exploitation":"active"},{"automatable":"yes"},{"technicalImpact":"total"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2022-03-02T00:00:00+00:00"}	—
SSVC assessment	added	—	{"id":"CVE-2016-1019","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"exploitation":"active"},{"automatable":"no"},{"technicalImpact":"total"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2026-10-01T19:53:23.096920Z"}

Source identifier: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

01.10.2026Record modifiedCVE Program

New references:

and 8 more references

Show 45 original changes

Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
Type	Action	Before	After
Reference	added	—	http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/?p=1330
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00009.html
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00010.html
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00012.html
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00055.html
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00044.html
Reference	added	—	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00045.html
Reference	added	—	http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0610.html
Reference	added	—	http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/85856
Reference	added	—	http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035491
Reference	added	—	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-050
Reference	added	—	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa16-01.html
Reference	added	—	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb16-10.html
Reference	added	—	https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201606-08
Reference	added	—	https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2016/04/cve-2016-1019_a_new.html
Reference	removed	http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/?p=1330	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00009.html	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00010.html	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00012.html	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00055.html	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00044.html	—
Reference	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00045.html	—
Reference	removed	http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0610.html	—
Reference	removed	http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/85856	—
Reference	removed	http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035491	—
Reference	removed	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-050	—
Reference	removed	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa16-01.html	—
Reference	removed	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb16-10.html	—
Reference	removed	https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201606-08	—
Reference	removed	https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2016/04/cve-2016-1019_a_new.html	—
Reference type	removed	http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/?p=1330 Types: Broken Link, Vendor Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00009.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00010.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00012.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00055.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00044.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00045.html Types: Broken Link	—
Reference type	removed	http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0610.html Types: Third Party Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/85856 Types: Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry	—
Reference type	removed	http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035491 Types: Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry	—
Reference type	removed	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-050 Types: Patch, Third Party Advisory, Vendor Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa16-01.html Types: Vendor Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb16-10.html Types: Vendor Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201606-08 Types: Third Party Advisory	—
Reference type	removed	https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2016/04/cve-2016-1019_a_new.html Types: Broken Link	—

Source identifier: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108

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What is affected, what to do

Metrics

Response and mitigation

Prioritisation rationale

Immediate response (0-24 h)

Mitigation layers

Detection rules

Detection rules

Classification under NIS2 and CRA

Description

Affected products

Vendors and products

Public exploit references

References & sources

Changes to this CVE