---
id: "CVE-2016-0984"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2016-0984"]
title: "Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.329 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.306 on Windows\u2026"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.3
epss: 0.54544
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: [{"name": "Adobe Flash Player and AIR", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "adobe flash player", "fixed": [], "affected": "<= 20.0.0.272", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "adobe flash player", "fixed": [], "affected": "<= 11.2.202.559", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "adobe flash player desktop runtime", "fixed": [], "affected": "<= 20.0.0.286", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "adobe flash player", "fixed": [], "affected": "<= 18.0.0.326", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "adobe flash player", "fixed": [], "affected": "<= 20.0.0.286", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "adobe air desktop runtime", "fixed": [], "affected": "<= 20.0.0.233", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "adobe air sdk", "fixed": [], "affected": "<= 20.0.0.233", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "adobe air sdk \\& compiler", "fixed": [], "affected": "<= 20.0.0.233", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["adobe-air", "adobe-flash-player", "browsers", "exploited", "linux", "macos", "package", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["flash-removed", "no-flash-installed"]
published_at: "2016-02-10T20:59:32+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2016-0984", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2016-0984", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:45+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0984", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.329 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.306 on Windows…

Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR contain a use-after-free memory bug that lets an attacker execute code. The flaw is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, so attacks have been seen in the wild.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Adobe Flash Player and AIR affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:adobe flash player affected <= 20.0.0.272 fixed ?
- vendor:adobe flash player affected <= 11.2.202.559 fixed ?
- vendor:adobe flash player desktop runtime affected <= 20.0.0.286 fixed ?
- vendor:adobe flash player affected <= 18.0.0.326 fixed ?
- vendor:adobe flash player affected <= 20.0.0.286 fixed ?
- vendor:adobe air desktop runtime affected <= 20.0.0.233 fixed ?
- vendor:adobe air sdk affected <= 20.0.0.233 fixed ?
- vendor:adobe air sdk \& compiler affected <= 20.0.0.233 fixed ?

## How to check

Look for Adobe Flash Player or Adobe AIR installed on endpoints and servers; the sources do not give a version check command.

## Fix

Remove Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR from systems, since the products are end-of-life and CISA says to disconnect them if still in use.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2016-0984
- 2026-10-23T19:13:45+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2016-0984
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-0984

## From the sources

Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.329 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.306 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.569 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 20.0.0.260, Adobe AIR SDK before 20.0.0.260, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 20.0.0.260 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0973, CVE-2016-0974, CVE-2016-0975, CVE-2016-0982, and CVE-2016-0983.

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