CVE-2002-0576 in Coldfusion Server
Summary
by MITRE
ColdFusion 5.0 and earlier on Windows systems allows remote attackers to determine the absolute pathname of .cfm or .dbm files via an HTTP request that contains an MS-DOS device name such as NUL, which leaks the pathname in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2025
This vulnerability exists in Adobe ColdFusion versions 5.0 and earlier running on Windows operating systems where the application fails to properly validate input containing MS-DOS device names such as NUL in HTTP requests. The flaw stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input before processing file operations, creating a path traversal condition that can be exploited to disclose sensitive system information. When a malicious request includes these device names in file paths, the ColdFusion engine generates error messages that inadvertently reveal the absolute pathname of .cfm or .dbm files, providing attackers with critical information about the server's file structure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the Windows operating system's handling of device names where certain reserved names like NUL, CON, PRN, AUX, COM1, LPT1, and others are treated specially by the file system. When ColdFusion attempts to process a request containing these device names in file paths, the underlying Windows file system APIs return error codes that include the absolute path information in the error messages. This occurs because the application does not properly intercept or sanitize these special device names before passing them to the operating system's file handling routines, creating an information disclosure channel that can be systematically exploited to map the application's directory structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with precise knowledge of the server's file system layout, including the exact absolute paths where application files reside. This information can be leveraged in subsequent attacks to craft more sophisticated exploitation techniques, potentially leading to unauthorized file access, remote code execution, or further reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability specifically affects Windows systems where ColdFusion is installed, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where ColdFusion applications are commonly deployed for web application development and deployment. Security researchers have classified this issue under CWE-200, Information Exposure, and it aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to reconnaissance and information gathering.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement input validation measures that filter out or sanitize MS-DOS device names from all user-supplied input before processing file operations. The recommended mitigation strategy involves configuring ColdFusion to reject requests containing these reserved device names in file path parameters, implementing proper error handling that does not expose system paths in error messages, and upgrading to patched versions of ColdFusion where this vulnerability has been addressed. Additionally, network-level filtering can be implemented to block requests containing known problematic device names, and regular security audits should be conducted to ensure that similar input validation gaps do not exist in other components of the application stack. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and error handling in preventing information disclosure attacks that can serve as precursors to more serious security breaches.