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CVE Record

CVE-2016-4171: Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.242 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute a...

Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.242 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, as exploited in the wild in June 2016.

HighCVSS 7.8Known exploitedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2016-4171 is a known-exploited Adobe Flash Player flaw that can allow code execution on a user’s machine. The public record says Flash Player 21.0.0.242 and earlier were affected and exploitation occurred in June 2016. Treat remaining Flash exposure as legacy high-risk software, especially on workstations that browse external content.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation if any Flash remains in production. This is a historical but known-exploited remote code execution risk in obsolete client software, so the business urgency is eliminating residual legacy exposure rather than emergency patching every modern endpoint.

Technical view

The CVE describes an unspecified Adobe Flash Player vulnerability allowing arbitrary code execution through unknown vectors. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8 high, with user interaction required and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The source data does not provide root cause, reliable exploit mechanics, or detailed affected CPEs.

Likely exposure

Organizations are most likely exposed through legacy endpoints, browsers, embedded apps, or third-party systems still running Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.242 or earlier. Modern environments should mainly validate that Flash is absent and that legacy application exceptions are documented.

Exploitation context

The CVE description states exploitation in the wild in June 2016, and CISA KEV lists the vulnerability as known exploited. The sources do not establish current active exploitation, public exploit availability, or specific attack chains.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited: the public bundle names Adobe Flash Player versions, code execution impact, KEV status, and vendor advisories, but not the vulnerable component or exploit vector. Avoid assuming exploit technique. Focus validation on asset discovery, version confirmation, and vendor advisory correlation.

Mitigation direction

  • Remove Adobe Flash Player wherever possible.
  • Apply relevant Adobe, OS vendor, or distribution security updates.
  • Inventory legacy systems that still require Flash.
  • Restrict Flash-dependent systems from internet browsing.
  • Check current vendor guidance for remaining supported remediation paths.

Validation and detection

  • Search endpoint inventory for Adobe Flash Player installations.
  • Confirm installed Flash versions are newer than 21.0.0.242 or removed.
  • Review browser plugin inventories and legacy application dependencies.
  • Check vulnerability scanner results for CVE-2016-4171.
  • Verify compensating controls on systems that cannot remove Flash.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2016-4171 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
Yes
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
8Source links

CISA KEV status

Status
Known exploited
Source
CISA / ADP
Date added
Not provided

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2016-4171Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.