# CVE-2020-9746: Exploitable NULL pointer deref could lead to arbitrary code execution

> An exploitable NULL pointer dereference in Adobe Flash Player allows attackers to cause crashes or execute arbitrary code via malicious HTTP responses.

- **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 14 Oct 2020
- **Updated:** 23 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h82h-rg57-cr4v, MGASA-2020-0386, RHSA-2020:4251, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-9746

## What is CVE-2020-9746?

CVE-2020-9746 is a high-severity vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player, published on 14 Oct 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Adobe Flash Player version 32.0.0.433 (and earlier) are affected by an exploitable NULL pointer dereference vulnerability that could result in a crash and arbitrary code execution. Exploitation of this issue requires an attacker to insert malicious strings in an HTTP response that is by default delivered over TLS/SSL.

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-9746?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `flash-plugin` | Red Hat:rhel_extras:6 | All versions | 0:32.0.0.445-1.el6_10 |

Products: Adobe Flash Player.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-9746?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2020-9746 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-9746 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2016-7892](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7892/): Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free (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)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-9746 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-9746 is a high-severity vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player, published on 14 Oct 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-9746 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2020-9746/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9746/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-9746
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-9746
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-9746

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9746/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.