CVE-1999-0757 in Coldfusion Server
Summary
by MITRE
The ColdFusion CFCRYPT program for encrypting CFML templates has weak encryption, allowing attackers to decrypt the templates.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-1999-0757 affects the ColdFusion CFCRYPT program which was designed to provide encryption capabilities for CFML templates within Adobe ColdFusion web applications. This weakness represents a significant security flaw in the cryptographic implementation that was prevalent during the late 1990s when ColdFusion versions were still in active development and deployment. The vulnerability stems from the use of weak encryption algorithms and implementation practices that fail to meet modern cryptographic security standards, making the encrypted templates susceptible to decryption by unauthorized parties.
The technical flaw in the CFCRYPT program manifests through the implementation of inadequate encryption mechanisms that do not provide sufficient entropy or cryptographic strength to protect sensitive template content. This weakness allows attackers to reverse-engineer or brute-force the encryption process, effectively compromising the confidentiality of CFML templates that were intended to be protected. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and represents a critical failure in the application's security architecture where encryption is expected to provide protection but instead offers minimal security value. The implementation likely employs outdated encryption standards or improperly configured cryptographic primitives that have been well-documented as insecure by cryptographic communities and standards organizations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data confidentiality breaches, as it enables attackers to gain access to application logic, business rules, and potentially sensitive data processing workflows embedded within CFML templates. This access can lead to complete system compromise through understanding of application internals, identification of additional vulnerabilities, and potential exploitation of other system components that may be exposed through the decrypted template content. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform reconnaissance activities, understand application architecture, and develop more sophisticated attack vectors against the broader ColdFusion environment. The vulnerability affects organizations running older ColdFusion versions that were still using the CFCRYPT functionality, creating a persistent security risk that could remain undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-1999-0757 require immediate action to address the cryptographic weaknesses in the ColdFusion environment. Organizations should upgrade to newer versions of ColdFusion that implement proper cryptographic standards and do not rely on the vulnerable CFCRYPT functionality. When immediate upgrades are not feasible, administrators should disable or remove the CFCRYPT program entirely from affected systems and implement alternative encryption methods that comply with current security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management. The remediation process should include thorough security assessments of all encryption implementations within ColdFusion applications and the replacement of any weak cryptographic components with properly configured, industry-standard encryption mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring and detection capabilities to identify any attempts to exploit this vulnerability and ensure that all CFML template encryption is handled through secure, well-vetted cryptographic libraries that meet contemporary security requirements.