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Actively exploitedKnown ransomware use

CVE-2018-4878 Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Adobe Flash Player contains a use-after-free vulnerability that could allow for code execution.

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch nowCybergen assessment
  • CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 3 Nov 2021.
  • CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
  • Rated High severity (CVSS 7.8, scored by CISA).
  • Named in Cybergen threat actor reporting: Lazarus Group.
  • It has been in the catalogue for 1,829 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

A use-after-free vulnerability was discovered in Adobe Flash Player before 28.0.0.161. This vulnerability occurs due to a dangling pointer in the Primetime SDK related to media player handling of listener objects. A successful attack can lead to arbitrary code execution. This was exploited in the wild in January and February 2018.

Affected Versions

ProductVersions
Adobe Flash Player before 28.0.0.161Adobe Flash Player before 28.0.0.161

From the public CVE record, as supplied by the vendor. Always confirm against the vendor advisory.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Adobe Flash Player. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.

    Attack Surface Management
  2. 2

    Fix it

    The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use.

    Vulnerability Management
  3. 3

    Hunt for compromise

    If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.

    Incident Response
  4. 4

    Prove it is fixed

    Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.

    Penetration Testing

Vendor Advisories

Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated high, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 3 May 2022 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

Stay Ahead

More Exploited Adobe Flaws

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2018-4878
  3. CVE record: CVE-2018-4878
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. blog.talosintelligence.com/2018/02/group-123-goes-wild.html
  6. threatpost.com/adobe-flash-player-zero-day-spotted-in-the-wild/129742/
  7. helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb18-03.html
  8. access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0285
  9. securitytracker.com/id/1040318
  10. securityfocus.com/bid/102893
  11. fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2018/02/attacks-leveraging-adobe-zero-day.html
  12. blog.morphisec.com/flash-exploit-cve-2018-4878-spotted-in-the-wild-massive-malspam-campaign