Yet another chance for Adobe to try and get people to install McAfee which is an "Optional offer" but checked by default. Bad form.

That sucks... I won a free download of Google Chrome when updating my Flash!

Apple has blocked the old version as of 10 hours ago:

APPLE-SA-2014-02-04-1 OS X: Flash Player plug-in blocked

Due to security issues in older versions, Apple has updated the web plug-in blocking mechanism to disable all versions prior to Flash Player 12.0.0.44.

Information on blocked web plug-ins will be posted to: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5655

The relevant part:

These updates address a critical vulnerability that could potentially allow an attacker to remotely take control of the affected system. Adobe is aware of reports that an exploit for this vulnerability exists in the wild, and recommends users update their product installations to the latest versions.

"relevant part?" They say that every month. The only surprising thing is that it's "critical vulnerability," singular, not "critical vulnerabilities," plural.

Ahem. Grumbling and bad jokes aside, you're right. The fact that Adobe believes it's already being exploited is unusually concerning.

Although the security bulletin is dated February 4th, did the updates roll out before then? I just visited the 'About Flash Player' page and it claims that I am up to date already.

Doesn't seem to be shipping with Chrome beta yet.

Edit: Just got the update.

When the hell is Adobe going to include a way to manually check for updates and then automatically install the update within their control panel applet?

They already have that on OS X.

No, they just open a new browser window to the binary download. It most definitely does not auto-update in place.

Mozilla's update page says: "These plugins are up to date Shockwave Flash 12.0 r0 12.0.0.38" (the Jan 24th update)

It told me it was vulnerable

If you use a browser privacy tool like Ghostery[0] to block Adobe's Omniture tracker, it'll have to be unblocked in order to download the new version of flash.

[0]https://www.ghostery.com/

I noticed that Ubuntu 12.04 LTS pulled down a 7 KB or so installer shim, instead of the full installer.

From my perspective, BAD! I hate this installer shim BS.

I think it's some sort of legal thing. You know, distribute 7 KB FOSS shell script, no proprietary software here, folks, nuh-uh.

The partner repository (which is for non-free software) contains a real, non-shim adobe-flashplugin package, if you like.

Interesting point.

They do it in the Windows world, too, though. Leading to people learning to seek out their .../distribution3 page (IIRC), where the full installers are linked.

In the Windows world, the shims bork more easily, and they don't seem to add any benefit.

I haven't really been paying much attention in Ubuntu; I just happened to notice this, today. On Ubuntu, Flash updates via the update manager have been mostly "just working", and I have most Flash blocked, anyway.

Back to Windows: Whenever I have to maintain multiple machines with some or all of them perhaps currently off-line, this shim business quickly becomes a pain in the ass.

By default, Flash only checks if there is updates every 14 days, and in my experience only actually does on system restart.

http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplay...

That is a bit bizarre given that it is in tight competition with Java (which also features enormous update issues) as the biggest security vulnerability on most systems.

The Flash (and java for that matter) update mechanisms are a big nuisance. Having to go visit the site manually is also not very convenient.

So I end up using a 3rd party that actually checks the plugins and gives me a direct update link if the plugin is not up to date.

https://browsercheck.qualys.com/?scan_type=js

Not perfect, but it helps me.

Should be a sticky.