CVE-2007-5905 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe ColdFusion 8 and MX 7 allows remote attackers to hijack sessions via unspecified vectors that trigger establishment of a session to a ColdFusion application in which the (1) CFID or (2) CFTOKEN cookies have empty values, possibly due to a session fixation vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2025
Adobe ColdFusion versions 8 and MX 7 contain a session management vulnerability that enables remote attackers to hijack user sessions through unspecified vectors leading to session establishment with empty CFID or CFTOKEN cookies. This vulnerability represents a session fixation weakness that allows attackers to manipulate session identifiers and potentially gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The flaw occurs when the application creates sessions with empty session identifier values, which can be exploited by malicious actors to establish their own session context within the application. This vulnerability falls under CWE-384, which specifically addresses session fixation issues where the application fails to properly invalidate or regenerate session identifiers upon authentication. The security implications extend to the broader ATT&CK framework under the T1133 technique for External Remote Services, where attackers can exploit session management flaws to maintain persistent access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to manipulate session cookies that are fundamental to maintaining user state within web applications. When CFID or CFTOKEN cookies contain empty values, they provide no protection against session hijacking attempts. Attackers can leverage this weakness to intercept and reuse session identifiers, effectively taking control of user sessions. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session theft, as it can enable privilege escalation and unauthorized data access. The flaw demonstrates poor session management practices in the ColdFusion application server, where session identifiers are not properly validated or regenerated during the authentication process. This vulnerability is classified as a medium to high severity risk according to industry standards, as it directly affects the integrity and confidentiality of user sessions. The session fixation aspect of this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to establish a known session context, potentially enabling them to perform actions on behalf of legitimate users. Security researchers have noted that applications using ColdFusion versions 8 and MX 7 are especially vulnerable to this type of attack vector, particularly in environments where session management is not properly enforced. The vulnerability is rooted in the application server's handling of session cookies and the lack of proper validation mechanisms for session identifiers. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as session timeout mechanisms, proper cookie security attributes, and regular session regeneration practices. The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise, making it a significant concern for organizations running affected ColdFusion versions. Remediation efforts should focus on upgrading to patched versions of ColdFusion, implementing proper session management policies, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and ensuring that session identifiers are properly validated and regenerated during authentication processes. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and detection capabilities to identify potential session hijacking attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper session management in web applications and the potential consequences of inadequate session security controls. The exploitation of session fixation vulnerabilities can lead to comprehensive system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. Security professionals should ensure that all applications utilizing session management features implement robust protection mechanisms to prevent unauthorized session access.