# CVE-2016-7892: Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code via a use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player's TextField class.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 25 Mar 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 15 Dec 2016
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gxjf-m829-568r

## What is CVE-2016-7892?

CVE-2016-7892 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player, published on 15 Dec 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Adobe Flash Player versions 23.0.0.207 and earlier, 11.2.202.644 and earlier have an exploitable use after free vulnerability in the TextField class. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-7892?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-7892?

Apply the vendor's patch. US federal agencies must fix it by 15 Apr 2022.

## Is CVE-2016-7892 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2016-7892 in the wild since at least 25 Mar 2022.

## Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player

- [CVE-2017-11292](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-11292/): Adobe Flash Player Type Confusion (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2016-7855](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7855/): Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-0497](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0497/): Adobe Flash Player Integer Underflow Vulnerablity (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-0643](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-0643/): Adobe Flash Player Incorrect Default Permissions (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-0648](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-0648/): Adobe Flash Player Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-7892 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-7892 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player, published on 15 Dec 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2016-7892 in the wild since at least 25 Mar 2022.

Affected product: Adobe Flash Player. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7892/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7892/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7892
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7892
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-7892

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7892/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.