CVE-2011-0580 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the administrator console in Adobe ColdFusion 8.0 through 9.0.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0580 represents a critical security flaw in Adobe ColdFusion administrator console versions 8.0 through 9.0.1. This issue falls under the category of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that pose significant risks to web application security. The affected Adobe ColdFusion platform serves as a comprehensive application server and development environment that enables organizations to build and deploy dynamic web applications. The administrator console functionality provides privileged access to critical system configurations, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise entire web applications or servers. These vulnerabilities specifically affect the administrative interface, which typically requires elevated privileges and handles sensitive configuration data, thereby amplifying the potential impact of successful exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the ColdFusion administrator console. Attackers can leverage unspecified vectors to inject malicious scripts or HTML content into the administrative interface, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code or manipulate the console's functionality. The lack of proper sanitization of user-supplied input means that malicious payloads can be stored or directly executed within the context of the administrator's browser session. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web interface components that process administrative requests, making it particularly dangerous for systems where the administrator console is accessible from untrusted networks. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the improper handling of input data that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0580 extends far beyond simple data theft or display manipulation. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain full administrative control over ColdFusion applications, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers might leverage this vulnerability to modify application configurations, access sensitive data, inject malicious content into web applications, or even establish persistent backdoors. The implications are particularly severe for organizations that rely heavily on ColdFusion for mission-critical applications, as the attack surface includes not just the administrator console but potentially the entire ColdFusion server infrastructure. Additionally, the vulnerability could facilitate privilege escalation attacks where unauthenticated users gain administrative access, or enable attackers to perform actions that would normally require legitimate administrative credentials, making it a significant threat to enterprise security posture.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Adobe, which address the specific XSS vulnerabilities in the administrator console. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the administrator console to trusted networks only. Web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering traffic to the console interface. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, emphasizing the need for proper input validation and output encoding. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential social engineering attempts that might exploit this vulnerability. Monitoring for suspicious activities in administrator console access logs and implementing automated alerting systems can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can lead to critical system compromises, reinforcing the necessity of comprehensive security maintenance programs.