Alert - Active Exploitation of Vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player

Number: AL16-020
Date: 27 October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this alert is to bring attention to the active exploitation of a recently disclosed vulnerability VulnerabilityA flaw or weakness in the design or implementation of an information system or its environment that could be exploited to adversely affect an organization's assets or operations. in Adobe Flash Player.

Assessment

CCIRC is aware of attacks exploiting a previously unknown critical vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player. The vulnerability exists in: versions 23.0.0.185 and earlier of Adobe Flash Player Desktop Runtime, Adobe Flash Player for Google Chrome, and Adobe Flash Player for Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11; and version 11.2.202.637 of Adobe Flash Player for Linux. Identified as CVE-2016-7855, exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.

Suggested action

Due to the elevated risk presented by this vulnerability, CCIRC recommends that system administrators test and deploy the vendor-released updates to affected applications accordingly. CCIRC recommends that priority is given to this patch.

Organizations should consider installing Microsoft's Experience Mitigation Toolkit (EMET). The Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit helps mitigate the exploitation of vulnerabilities by adding additional protection layers that make them harder to exploit.

References

CCIRC Advisory AV16-174: Security Update for Adobe Flash Player: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/cybr-ctr/2016/av16-174-en.aspx