Appsecure logo

CVE-2015-3113: Critical Vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player

A critical heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. Organizations must prioritize patching to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.

CRITICALKnown ExploitedCVSS 9.8 · Published June 23, 2015

Not a customer? See how AppSecure simulates real world attacks to protect your infrastructure.

Speak to Experts

The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3113 is a critical heap-based buffer overflow present in Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.296 and 14.x through 18.x before 18.0.0.194 on Windows and OS X, and prior to 11.2.202.468 on Linux. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through unspecified vectors. It was actively exploited in the wild in June 2015.

With a CVSS score of 9.8, this vulnerability is classified as critical, indicating an urgent need for remediation. The potential for an attacker to exploit this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations, particularly those using outdated versions of Adobe Flash Player.

Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access and control over affected systems, leading to data breaches or further exploitation of network resources. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate this risk.

The vulnerability is included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, emphasizing its active exploitation status and the need for immediate action.

Organizations should ensure they are using the latest version of Adobe Flash Player and follow best practices for security patch management to protect against this and other vulnerabilities.

Vulnerability Details

CVE-2015-3113 is characterized as a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player, affecting various versions on multiple platforms. The official description outlines that this vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, which poses a significant risk to users.

The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.8, deemed critical due to the high severity of potential impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The affected products include Adobe Flash Player and various Linux distributions, such as OpenSUSE and Red Hat.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of CVE-2015-3113 lies in the improper handling of memory allocation within Adobe Flash Player, specifically leading to a heap-based buffer overflow. This type of vulnerability is critical as it can be exploited remotely without requiring user interaction.

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, and the complexity of exploitation is low, meaning that attackers can execute their payloads with minimal effort. No privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability, making it even more dangerous.

The impacts of a successful exploitation include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, indicating that an attacker could potentially compromise sensitive data and disrupt service availability.

Risk & Impact Analysis

Real-world risks associated with CVE-2015-3113 are substantial, particularly in environments that still utilize Adobe Flash Player, which is now considered end-of-life. The blast radius of this vulnerability is extensive, as it can affect numerous users and systems across various platforms.

The urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability is critical, given its inclusion in the KEV catalog, which indicates ongoing exploitation in the wild. Organizations must prioritize remediation through patching to mitigate potential exploitation.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

Yes

Public PoC

Yes

Actively Exploited

Yes

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 13.0.0.296, 14.x through 18.x before 18.0.0.194, and Linux versions prior to 11.2.202.468 are affected by this vulnerability. Organizations using these versions should consider immediate upgrades to secure their systems.

Mitigation & Remediation

Organizations still using affected versions of Adobe Flash Player must prioritize immediate patching. Given that the impacted product is end-of-life, disconnecting it from networks may also be necessary. For further security measures, organizations should consider adopting penetration testing to assess their security posture and identify any other vulnerabilities in their systems.

Detection Guidance

Organizations should monitor system logs for indicators of exploitation attempts, including unusual network traffic patterns or unauthorized access attempts. Behavioral anomalies in application performance may also signal a potential compromise.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

The critical nature of CVE-2015-3113 serves as a reminder of the importance of timely patch management and the risks of using unsupported software. Security teams should evaluate their current software inventory and consider strategies to phase out end-of-life applications. Additionally, organizations should enhance their security posture by implementing regular penetration testing methodologies to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.

For organizations considering their security framework, adopting a vulnerability management program can enhance their ability to respond to emerging threats and vulnerabilities in a structured manner.

In conclusion, CVE-2015-3113 highlights the critical need for organizations to remain vigilant and proactive in their security practices to combat evolving threats in the cybersecurity landscape.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

Latest CVEs. Recently published vulnerabilities from the NVD database.

View all vulnerabilities
CVE IDSeverity
CVE-2025-65418HIGH
CVE-2025-65417MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65416MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65415MEDIUM
CVE-2025-61314HIGH

Protect Your Business with Hacker-Focused Approach.