CVE-2016-1019
Adobe Flash Player Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2016-1019 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting Adobe Flash Player, carrying a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8. This vulnerability allows an attacker to achieve remote code execution on affected systems by exploiting improper handling in the software's processing logic. This CVE has been added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 2022-03-03, confirming active exploitation in the wild with a federal remediation deadline of 2022-03-24. With an EPSS score of 71.4% (98.71th percentile), the probability of exploitation activity is significantly elevated compared to other known vulnerabilities. Notably, this vulnerability has been associated with ransomware campaigns, underscoring its attractiveness to financially motivated threat actors.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | flash player desktop runtime | <= 21.0.0.197 |
| adobe | flash player | <= 18.0.0.333; <= 21.0.0.197; <= 11.2.202.577 |
| adobe | air desktop runtime | <= 21.0.0.176 |
| adobe | air sdk | <= 21.0.0.176 |
| adobe | air sdk \& compiler | <= 21.0.0.176 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/?p=1330(Broken Link, Vendor Advisory)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00009.html(Broken Link)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00010.html(Broken Link)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00012.html(Broken Link)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00055.html(Broken Link)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00044.html(Broken Link)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00045.html(Broken Link)
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0610.html(Third Party Advisory)
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/85856(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035491(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-050(Patch, Third Party Advisory, Vendor Advisory)
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa16-01.html(Vendor Advisory)
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb16-10.html(Vendor Advisory)
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201606-08(Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2016/04/cve-2016-1019_a_new.html(Broken Link)
- https://github.com/cisagov/vulnrichment/issues/196(Issue Tracking)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2016-1019(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-noinfo: Unspecified
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1019 relates to a weakness in Adobe Flash Player where the software fails to properly handle certain operations, leading to a security condition that can be exploited by an attacker. While the specific CWE classification may not have detailed context available, the nature of the vulnerability — allowing arbitrary code execution — indicates a fundamental flaw in how the software processes or validates certain input or operations. This type of weakness is commonly found in complex software products where the interaction between components creates opportunities for exploitation.
In the context of Adobe Flash Player, this weakness is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical access to the target system. The critical severity rating and its inclusion in the CISA KEV catalog reflect the real-world danger this weakness poses. Organizations should treat this vulnerability with high urgency, applying vendor-provided patches and implementing defense-in-depth measures to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The presence of this weakness in Adobe's product highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining secure software in complex enterprise environments.
Learn more: CWE-noinfo
Impact Analysis
CVE-2016-1019 carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL), reflecting its significant potential for harm across multiple impact dimensions.
Confidentiality (HIGH): An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to access sensitive data stored on or processed by the affected system. This includes configuration files, credentials, cryptographic keys, and potentially proprietary or regulated data. In environments where the compromised system handles personally identifiable information (PII) or financial records, the confidentiality breach could trigger regulatory compliance violations and significant reputational damage.
Integrity (HIGH): Successful exploitation permits the attacker to modify data, install backdoors, alter system configurations, or inject malicious code. This level of integrity compromise means the attacker can manipulate the system to serve their objectives, whether that involves deploying ransomware, establishing persistent access, or pivoting to other systems within the network. The trustworthiness of the affected system is completely undermined once integrity is compromised at this level.
Availability (HIGH): The vulnerability can be leveraged to completely disrupt the availability of the affected service or device. An attacker can force a system crash, trigger a reload, or render the device inoperable, causing significant operational disruption. For critical infrastructure components like network devices or security appliances, even brief availability outages can have cascading effects across the organization.
Scope (Unchanged): The scope is Unchanged, meaning the impact of the vulnerability is limited to the affected component itself. While the consequences within that component can be severe, the exploitation does not directly extend to other systems or security domains.
The EPSS score of 71.4% (98.71th percentile) places this vulnerability well above average in terms of exploitation likelihood, indicating significant real-world attacker interest.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2016-1019 has confirmed active exploitation in the wild, as evidenced by its inclusion in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Active Exploitation: This vulnerability was added to the CISA KEV catalog on 2022-03-03, confirming that threat actors have actively exploited it in real-world attacks against organizations. The KEV listing represents a high-confidence indicator of exploitation, as CISA requires evidence of active exploitation before adding vulnerabilities to this catalog. Federal agencies were required to remediate this vulnerability by the deadline of 2022-03-24.
Ransomware Association: CISA's KEV catalog confirms that this vulnerability has been leveraged in ransomware campaigns. Ransomware operators frequently target known exploited vulnerabilities as part of their initial access strategy, making this CVE a high-priority remediation target for organizations seeking to reduce their exposure to ransomware threats. The association with ransomware indicates that exploit tooling is mature and readily available to threat actors of varying sophistication levels.
Public Exploits: While specific public exploit code may not be widely cataloged in standard databases, the KEV listing confirms that exploitation is occurring in the wild. Threat actors may be using privately developed exploit tools or leveraging the vulnerability through commercial exploit frameworks.
EPSS Score: The EPSS score of 71.4% (98.71th percentile) indicates a high likelihood of continued exploitation, reflecting significant attacker interest and available tooling.
KEV Remediation Deadline: 2022-03-24. Federal agencies under BOD 22-01 were required to remediate by this date, and all organizations are strongly encouraged to treat this deadline as a benchmark for their own patch management timelines.
Remediation
- The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use. This is the primary remediation action specified in the CISA KEV catalog. Since the affected product has reached end-of-life status, no further security patches will be provided by the vendor. Continued use of this software exposes the organization to unpatched vulnerabilities with no prospect of vendor remediation.
- Remove or replace the affected software with a supported alternative. Identify a currently maintained product that provides equivalent functionality and migrate all dependent workflows. Ensure the replacement product is kept up to date with the latest security patches from its vendor.
- If immediate removal is not possible, isolate the affected system. Place the affected system in a network segment with strict access controls, limiting both inbound and outbound network traffic to only essential communications. This reduces the attack surface while migration planning is underway.
- Implement compensating security controls around the affected system. Deploy network-level intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to monitor traffic to and from the affected system. Apply web application firewalls or protocol-specific filters where applicable to detect and block exploitation attempts.
- Monitor for indicators of compromise (IOCs) associated with this vulnerability. Review security logs for evidence of exploitation attempts or successful compromise. Establish alerts for anomalous behavior originating from or targeting the affected system.
- Conduct a risk assessment to prioritize the migration timeline. Document the business risk of continued use of the end-of-life product, including regulatory and compliance implications. Use this assessment to justify and accelerate the transition to a supported platform.
Technical Details
CVE-2016-1019 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player that enables arbitrary code execution through exploitation of a weakness in the software processing logic. The vulnerability exists in the way Adobe Flash Player handles certain network-facing operations, where insufficient validation or improper processing of incoming requests or data allows an attacker to trigger the vulnerable condition.
The attack vector is Network (AV:N), meaning exploitation can occur remotely over the network without physical access. The attack complexity is low complexity (AC:L), indicating that reliable exploitation does not require specialized conditions or preparation beyond having access to the attack vector. The vulnerability requires no privileges (PR:N) and no user interaction (UI:N).
The scope is Unchanged (S:U), indicating the impact is contained within the vulnerable component's own security scope. The combined impact ratings of HIGH/HIGH/HIGH for Confidentiality/Integrity/Availability reflect the critical-severity nature of this flaw. The technical root cause involves improper handling within the affected component, resulting in a condition that threat actors can reliably trigger to achieve their exploitation objectives. Affected products include: adobe flash player desktop runtime (versions: <= 21.0.0.197); adobe flash player (versions: <= 18.0.0.333; <= 21.0.0.197; <= 11.2.202.577); adobe air desktop runtime (versions: <= 21.0.0.176); adobe air sdk (versions: <= 21.0.0.176).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2016-1019 actively exploited?
Yes, CVE-2016-1019 is confirmed to be actively exploited in the wild. It was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 2022-03-03, which requires evidence of active exploitation before a vulnerability can be listed. Furthermore, CISA has confirmed an association between this vulnerability and ransomware campaigns, indicating that threat actors are using it as part of financially motivated attacks. The EPSS score of 71.4% (98.71th percentile) further underscores the high likelihood of ongoing exploitation activity. Organizations should treat this as an urgent security issue requiring immediate attention.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-1019?
CVE-2016-1019 affects Adobe Flash Player. Specifically, the following product versions have been identified as vulnerable: adobe flash player desktop runtime (versions: <= 21.0.0.197); adobe flash player (versions: <= 18.0.0.333; <= 21.0.0.197; <= 11.2.202.577); adobe air desktop runtime (versions: <= 21.0.0.176); adobe air sdk (versions: <= 21.0.0.176); adobe air sdk & compiler (versions: <= 21.0.0.176). Organizations should conduct a thorough inventory of their environments to identify all deployments of the affected software. Both production systems and development or staging environments should be included in this assessment, as any unpatched instance represents a potential entry point for attackers.
How do I fix CVE-2016-1019?
Since the affected product is end-of-life, the primary remediation is to discontinue use of the software and migrate to a supported alternative. There are no further security patches available from the vendor. Until migration is complete, isolate affected systems from the network, implement strict access controls, and monitor for signs of exploitation. After remediation, verify that the patch was successfully applied and review system logs for any indicators of prior compromise, as unpatched systems may have been targeted before the fix was deployed.
How severe is CVE-2016-1019?
CVE-2016-1019 is rated CRITICAL with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network, with low attack complexity, and does not require user interaction. The impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability is all rated High, meaning successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. Its inclusion in the CISA KEV catalog with a remediation deadline of 2022-03-24 confirms the real-world severity. The confirmed association with ransomware campaigns adds additional urgency to remediation efforts. The EPSS score of 71.4% places it in the 98.71th percentile for exploitation likelihood.
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