# CVE-2018-15982 — Adobe Flash Player **CISA KEV** · **Ransomware** > As of 2026-11-07, CVE-2018-15982 is a HIGH-severity vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player, CVSS v3.1 7.8, EPSS 89.5% (99.7th percentile). It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2022-02-15), with a US federal remediation deadline of 2022-08-15, and CISA links it to known ransomware campaigns. Threadlinqs Intelligence links 2 tracked threat campaigns to CVE-2018-15982, most recently “Bottle Exploit Kit (BottleEK) - Malvertising Campaign Targeting Japanese Users via CVE-2018-8174 and CVE-2018-15982”. **Last updated:** 2026-10-01 ## What is CVE-2018-15982? Flash Player versions 31.0.0.153 and earlier, and 31.0.0.108 and earlier have a use after free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution. The record classifies CVE-2018-15982 under weakness class [CWE-416](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cwe/CWE-416). Its CVSS v3 base vector states that the flaw requires local access to the host, needs no prior authentication, needs a user to take an action first, and has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability. 14 affected-product entries are recorded, across 6 vendors, listed below. The identifier was first published 2851 days ago. ## Severity and exploitation probability - **CVSS v3.1 base score:** 7.8 — HIGH (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`) - **EPSS (FIRST):** 89.5% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.7% of all scored CVEs - **CISA KEV:** Listed since 2022-02-15, federal remediation deadline 2022-08-15 — used in known ransomware campaigns - **Threadlinqs priority:** 10/10 — CISA lists it as used in ransomware, which Threadlinqs scores at the maximum - **Published:** 2019-01-18, last modified 2026-10-01 ## Is CVE-2018-15982 being exploited? CISA added CVE-2018-15982 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-02-15, which means the agency holds evidence of exploitation in the wild; US federal civilian agencies had to remediate it by 2022-08-15 under BOD 22-01. CISA flags the vulnerability as one used in known ransomware campaigns. Weaponised exploit code for CVE-2018-15982 is publicly available. 8 public proof-of-concept repositories are tracked for this identifier. It currently carries a trending score of 53 in the Threadlinqs vulnerability feed. - [Ridter/CVE-2018-15982_EXP](https://github.com/Ridter/CVE-2018-15982_EXP) (github) - [scanfsec/CVE-2018-15982](https://github.com/scanfsec/CVE-2018-15982) (github) - [Ormicron/CVE-2018-15982_PoC](https://github.com/Ormicron/CVE-2018-15982_PoC) (github) - [jas502n/CVE-2018-15982_EXP_IE](https://github.com/jas502n/CVE-2018-15982_EXP_IE) (github) - [kphongagsorn/adobe-flash-cve2018-15982](https://github.com/kphongagsorn/adobe-flash-cve2018-15982) (github) - [SyFi/CVE-2018-15982](https://github.com/SyFi/CVE-2018-15982) (github) - [FlatL1neAPT/CVE-2018-15982](https://github.com/FlatL1neAPT/CVE-2018-15982) (github) - [trickest/cve](https://github.com/trickest/cve/blob/main/2018/CVE-2018-15982.md) (trickest) ## Affected products and versions - [Adobe](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/vendors/adobe): Flash Player, Flash Player Installer - [Apple](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/vendors/apple): Mac Os X - [Linux](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/vendors/linux): Kernel - [Microsoft](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/vendors/microsoft): Windows, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 - [Google](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/vendors/google): Chrome Os - [Redhat](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/vendors/red-hat): Enterprise Linux Desktop 6.0, Enterprise Linux Server 6.0, Enterprise Linux Workstation 6.0 _Showing 11 of 14 recorded product entries._ ## How to fix CVE-2018-15982 The record marks a vendor fix as available for CVE-2018-15982. Patch reference: [https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb18-42.html](https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb18-42.html). Because CVE-2018-15982 is KEV-listed, US federal civilian agencies were required to apply the vendor fix, or stop using the product, by 2022-08-15. Apply the vendor fix referenced above to every affected product listed in this record, then confirm the running version against the vendor advisory. ## Threat activity tracking CVE-2018-15982 2 tracked threats in the Threadlinqs corpus reference CVE-2018-15982, either in the campaign’s CVE list or as an indicator on the campaign record. - [Bottle Exploit Kit (BottleEK) - Malvertising Campaign Targeting Japanese Users via CVE-2018-8174 and CVE-2018-15982](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-5498) — HIGH · 2026-11-07 - [Exploit kits remain active in April 2021: RIG, Spelevo, PurpleFox, Underminer, Bottle, Magnitude targeting Internet Explorer (CVE-2020-0674, CVE-2021-26411, CVE-2018-8174, CVE-2018-15982, CVE-2020-1380)](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-5496) — HIGH · 2026-11-07 ## Sources Enriched from CVE.org, NVD, FIRST EPSS, CISA KEV, GitHub Security Advisories, public proof-of-concept repositories. Last verified by Threadlinqs on 2026-11-07. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. **Vendor advisory and patch** - [access.redhat.com — vendor advisory](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3795) - [helpx.adobe.com](https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb18-42.html) **Exploit and proof of concept** - [exploit-db.com — exploit](https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46051/) **Vulnerability database entry** - [securityfocus.com — vdb entry](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106116) Canonical: https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2018-15982 Every threat comes with one complete detection in Splunk SPL, Microsoft KQL and Sigma, free for everyone; a free account adds daily TL Creds to unlock the rest. Sign up free (Blue): https://threadlinqs.com/?modal=signup Indicator values unlock with TL Creds (https://threadlinqs.com/tl-creds); MCP access for AI agents needs Purple: https://intel.threadlinqs.com/mcp