Description
Adobe Flash Player 18.x through 18.0.0.252 and 19.x through 19.0.0.207 on Windows and OS X and 11.x through 11.2.202.535 on Linux allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted SWF file, as exploited in the wild in October 2015.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | flashplugin-nonfree | 11.2.202.535ubuntu0.14.04.1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | flash-plugin | 11.2.202.540-1.el6_7 | RHSA-2015:1913 |
| RHEL 5 | flash-plugin | 11.2.202.548-1.el5 | RHSA-2015:2024 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 | flash-player | 11.2.202.540-108.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1770-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | flash-player | 11.2.202.540-0.23.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1771-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | flash-player | 11.2.202.540-0.23.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1771-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Adobe Flash - 'IExternalizable.writeExternal' Type Confusion EDB-38490 · dos · Oct 19, 2015 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 4
- RHSA-2015:2024 Red Hat Security Advisory: flash-plugin security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2015:1913 Red Hat Security Advisory: flash-plugin security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:1770-1 Security update for flash-player SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:1771-1 Security update for flash-player SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- RHSA-2015:1913 vendor-advisory
- 38490 exploit
- RHSA-2015:2024 vendor-advisory
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa15-05.html
- SUSE-SU-2015:1770 vendor-advisory
- 1033850 vdb-entry
- SUSE-SU-2015:1771 vendor-advisory
- 77081 vdb-entry
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb15-27.html
- GLSA-201511-02 vendor-advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/134009/Adobe-Flash-IExternalizable.writeExternal-Type-Confusion.html
- openSUSE-SU-2015:1768 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2015:1781 vendor-advisory
- http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/new-adobe-flash-zero-day-used-in-pawn-storm-campaign/