CVE-2000-0410 in ColdFusion Server
Summary
by MITRE
ColdFusion Server 4.5.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by making repeated requests to a CFCACHE tagged cache file that is not stored in memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-0410 represents a significant denial of service weakness within Adobe ColdFusion Server version 4.5.1. This issue specifically targets the caching mechanism of the application server, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit the system's resource management to disrupt legitimate service availability. The vulnerability manifests when the ColdFusion server processes repeated requests to cache files that are tagged with the CFCACHE directive but are not stored in memory, leading to a cascading failure that can effectively render the application server unusable for legitimate users.
The technical flaw resides in the server's handling of cached content that exists on disk rather than in memory. When ColdFusion encounters a CFCACHE tagged file that must be retrieved from persistent storage, the system's resource allocation and request processing mechanisms become overwhelmed by repeated access attempts. This particular implementation weakness creates a resource exhaustion condition where the server's ability to process concurrent requests deteriorates significantly, ultimately resulting in a complete denial of service state. The vulnerability specifically exploits the server's inability to efficiently manage and cache disk-based resources under sustained load conditions, which falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader system reliability concerns. Organizations relying on ColdFusion Server 4.5.1 for critical business applications face potential financial losses due to extended downtime periods and the cascading effects of service unavailability. Attackers can leverage this weakness with minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by threat actors with limited resources. The vulnerability affects the fundamental availability aspect of the CIA triad, as it directly compromises the system's ability to provide services to authorized users. This weakness can be categorized under CWE-400, which addresses unchecked resource consumption, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement rate limiting mechanisms to prevent excessive requests to cache files, particularly those that are disk-based rather than memory-resident. The system configuration should be reviewed to optimize cache management settings and ensure that frequently accessed content is prioritized for memory storage. Network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems and firewall rules can help identify and block suspicious request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, upgrading to patched versions of ColdFusion Server represents the most effective long-term solution, as subsequent releases addressed the underlying caching implementation issues. The remediation process should also include monitoring and logging of cache access patterns to detect anomalous behavior that may precede exploitation attempts, thereby enabling proactive security measures that align with defensive cybersecurity frameworks.