CVE-2001-1514 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
ColdFusion 4.5 and 5, when running on Windows with the advanced security sandbox type set to "operating system," does not properly pass security context to (1) child processes created with <CFEXECUTE> and (2) child processes that call the CreateProcess function and are executed with <CFOBJECT> or end with the CFX extension, which allows attackers to execute programs with the permissions of the System account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2018
This vulnerability exists in Adobe ColdFusion versions 4.5 and 5 when deployed on Windows operating systems with the advanced security sandbox configured to "operating system" mode. The flaw represents a critical security bypass that undermines the intended isolation mechanisms designed to protect the application server from unauthorized system-level operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the security context propagation mechanisms within the ColdFusion execution environment, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks that can result in full system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of security contexts when spawning child processes through two primary ColdFusion tags: <CFEXECUTE> for executing external programs and <CFOBJECT> for creating COM objects or executing components with the CFX extension. When ColdFusion creates these child processes, it fails to properly inherit or pass the security context from the parent ColdFusion process to the newly created child processes. This failure allows maliciously crafted requests to execute programs with elevated privileges, specifically those running under the System account permissions. The vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation issue that directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor privilege management within the ColdFusion application server architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges available, potentially allowing them to install malware, modify system files, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the core security model of ColdFusion's sandboxing mechanism, which is designed to isolate application execution from the underlying operating system. This creates an attack surface where malicious actors can bypass the intended security boundaries and gain unauthorized access to system resources that should remain protected. The vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where ColdFusion servers are commonly deployed to handle sensitive web applications and business-critical services.
Security researchers have categorized this vulnerability under CWE-276, which specifically addresses improper privileges, and it aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and execution through legitimate system tools. Organizations running affected ColdFusion versions should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, disabling the problematic security sandbox mode if possible, and restricting access to the vulnerable ColdFusion tags through network segmentation and access controls. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for suspicious process creation patterns and implement comprehensive logging of ColdFusion execution activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper privilege management in web application servers and highlights the need for thorough security testing of application server components that interact with the underlying operating system.