We got a number readers asking about the ongoing issues with Flash. Adobe released its regularly monthly update for Flash on Tuesday. With this update, you should be running Flash 19.0.0.207. However, on Wednesday, Adobe published a security bulletin that a new, so far unpatched, vulnerability (CVE-2015-7645)is being exploited. Adobe is currently talking about targeted and limited attacks.
Sometime next week, an update to Flash will be released to address this vulnerability.
So what should you do and what does this all mean?
Next weeks patch is unlikely to change the fact that there are a large number of so far unpublished vulnerabilities in Flash. It appears that some groups exploiting these vulnerabilities are able to find these vulnerabilities faster then Adobe is willing to patch them. Even after Adobe releases a patch next week, there will likely be new vulnerabilities that will be used starting as soon as the patch will be released. So really, one more patch wont fundamentally change anything.
What should you do?
If possible uninstall Flash. If you can not uninstall it, at least make sure that your browser does not automatically launch Flash applets. This Click to Run behavior should be enabled for all plugins that support it (e.g. Java).
Here are some quick tipson how to enable click-to-run:
Firefox: It should be enabled by default. Check the plugins.click_to_play setting in about:config to make sure it is enabled.
Internet Explorer: Click the gear icon and select Manage Add-ons. For the Shockwave Flash Object, select More Information. By default, all sites are approved due to the wildcard * in the approved site box. Delete it.
Google Chrome: In chrome://settings click on Show advanced settings... at the bottom fo the page. Click on the Content Settings button under Privacy and select Let me choose when to run plugin content under Plugins. You can also review existing exceptions that you may have set up in the past, and you can disable individual plugins.
Safari: Check the Security tab in preferences. Under Plugin Settings you can enabled/disable individual plugins.
[1] https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsa15-05.html
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