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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2017-2995 Adobe CVE debrief

CVE-2017-2995 is a high-severity Adobe Flash Player vulnerability first published on 2017-02-15. NVD describes it as a type confusion issue in the MessageChannel class that could allow arbitrary code execution in Flash Player versions 24.0.0.194 and earlier. The NVD record assigns a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 (HIGH), reflecting network attackability, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required.

Vendor
Adobe
Product
CVE-2017-2995
CVSS
HIGH 8.8
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2017-02-15
Original CVE updated
2026-05-13
Advisory published
2017-02-15
Advisory updated
2026-05-13

Who should care

Security teams responsible for Adobe Flash Player deployments, especially browser-integrated Flash and the desktop runtime listed in the NVD CPEs, should prioritize this CVE. This is also relevant for endpoint teams validating whether any legacy Flash components remain installed on managed systems.

Technical summary

The NVD record identifies CWE-843 (Type Confusion). A successful attack requires user interaction and can impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Affected product coverage in the NVD CPE data includes Adobe Flash Player variants ending at 24.0.0.194, including browser-integrated deployments for Chrome, Edge, and Internet Explorer, as well as the desktop runtime. The record does not mark the referenced operating systems themselves as vulnerable.

Defensive priority

High for any environment that still has Flash Player present, because the flaw is remotely reachable through content delivery but requires user interaction and can lead to full code execution. If Flash has already been removed or disabled, priority shifts to verification and exception hunting rather than patching.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Confirm whether any systems still have Adobe Flash Player installed, enabled, or bundled in legacy browser/runtime configurations.
  • Apply the Adobe security update referenced by APSB17-04 if affected Flash versions are still present.
  • Remove or disable Flash Player where possible, especially in browser-integrated deployments.
  • Validate enterprise browsers and legacy applications for hidden Flash dependencies before removing the plugin/runtime.
  • Use the NVD and vendor advisory links to confirm exact affected versions and supported remediation paths.
  • Treat any third-party advisories as supplemental; rely on Adobe's vendor guidance for patching decisions.

Evidence notes

This debrief is based on the supplied NVD record and its referenced Adobe advisory metadata. The NVD entry states the vulnerability affects Adobe Flash Player versions 24.0.0.194 and earlier and maps the weakness to CWE-843. The source metadata also includes third-party advisory references, some of which are marked as broken links in the record. Publication timing is taken from the CVE's 2017-02-15 published date; the 2026 modified timestamp reflects later record maintenance, not initial disclosure.

Official resources

Publicly disclosed on 2017-02-15 per the CVE and NVD record. Later modification timestamps in the source represent record updates, not the initial issue date.