# What is CVE-2016-1019?

> CVE-2016-1019 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) in Flash Player from Adobe, published on 7 April 2016. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 22%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2016-1019

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this now. Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 85 out of 100 (Critical); action: Emergency patch. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** Critical (CVSS 9.8 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** Yes, it is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 22% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 7 April 2016
- **Record last updated:** 12 April 2025
- **Main product:** Flash Player from Adobe
- **Affected products:** 13

## What is CVE-2016-1019? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### The official description

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.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- Unknown: Unknown

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Is CVE-2016-1019 being exploited? Yes

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 22%.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 22%, 22%, 22%, 22%, 22%, 22%, 22%.

### Timeline

- 7 April 2016: Published
- 12 April 2025: Record last updated
- 5 May 2026: Exploit likelihood fell

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2016-1019 scores **85 out of 100 (Critical)**, with the action "Emergency patch".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2016-1019?

The published record lists 13 products.

- [Flash Player](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/adobe/flash_player) by [Adobe](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/adobe) (Application): up to 18.0.0.333, up to 21.0.0.197, up to 11.2.202.577
- [Air Desktop Runtime](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/adobe/air_desktop_runtime) by [Adobe](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/adobe) (Application): up to 21.0.0.176
- [Air SDK](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/adobe/air_sdk) by [Adobe](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/adobe) (Application): up to 21.0.0.176
- Air SDK & Compiler by [Adobe](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/adobe) (Application): up to 21.0.0.176
- [Android](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/google/android) by [Google](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/google) (Operating system): version not specified
- [Chrome OS](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/google/chrome_os) by [Google](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/google) (Operating system): version not specified
- [Flash Player Desktop Runtime](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/adobe/flash_player_desktop_runtime) by [Adobe](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/adobe) (Application): up to 21.0.0.197
- [iOS](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/apple/iphone_os) by [Apple](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/apple) (Operating system): version not specified
- [Linux kernel](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/linux/linux_kernel) by [Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/linux) (Operating system): version not specified
- [Mac OS X](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/apple/mac_os_x) by [Apple](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/apple) (Operating system): version not specified
- [Windows](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/windows) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Operating system): version not specified
- [Windows 10](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/windows_10) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Operating system): version not specified
- [Windows 8.1](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/microsoft/windows_8.1) by [Microsoft](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/microsoft) (Operating system): version not specified

## How do I fix CVE-2016-1019?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisories and patch notes first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Check it wasn’t used before you patched.** Because criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance.

### References

- [docs.microsoft.com](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2016/ms16-050) (Patch, Third-party advisory, Vendor advisory)
- [blogs.adobe.com](http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/?p=1330) (Broken link, Vendor advisory)
- [helpx.adobe.com](https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa16-01.html) (Vendor advisory)
- [helpx.adobe.com](https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb16-10.html) (Vendor advisory)
- [lists.opensuse.org](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00009.html) (Broken link)
- [lists.opensuse.org](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00010.html) (Broken link)
- [lists.opensuse.org](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00012.html) (Broken link)
- [lists.opensuse.org](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-04/msg00055.html) (Broken link)
- [lists.opensuse.org](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00044.html) (Broken link)
- [lists.opensuse.org](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00045.html) (Broken link)
- [rhn.redhat.com](http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0610.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/85856) (Broken link, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [securitytracker.com](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035491) (Broken link, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [security.gentoo.org](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201606-08) (Third-party advisory)
- [fireeye.com](https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2016/04/cve-2016-1019_a_new.html) (Broken link)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2016-1019?

CVE-2016-1019 is a critical-severity flaw in Flash Player from Adobe, published on 7 April 2016. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2016-1019?

It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is critical. Our risk score for CVE-2016-1019 is 85 out of 100, which is Critical. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.

### Is CVE-2016-1019 being exploited?

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 22%.

### Which versions does CVE-2016-1019 affect?

For Flash Player from Adobe: up to 18.0.0.333, up to 21.0.0.197, up to 11.2.202.577. The record lists 13 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2016-1019?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in.

## Does CVE-2016-1019 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

Start free (no card, nothing to install): https://www.precursorintelligence.com/register
Book a demo: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/contact