CVE-2011-0583 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion 8.0 through 9.0.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the cfform tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2021
The CVE-2011-0583 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Adobe ColdFusion versions 8.0 through 9.0.1, specifically within the cfform tag implementation. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML content into web applications that utilize ColdFusion's form handling mechanisms, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The cfform tag, which is fundamental to ColdFusion's web application development framework, becomes a vector for malicious code execution when proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms are not implemented.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when ColdFusion applications fail to adequately sanitize user input passed through the cfform tag. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable ColdFusion server, execute within the context of other users' browsers. This typically involves embedding script tags or JavaScript code within form fields or parameters that are subsequently rendered without proper HTML escaping. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because ColdFusion applications often handle sensitive user data, making this attack vector potentially devastating for applications that process personal information, financial data, or other confidential content. The attack chain follows the typical XSS methodology where malicious input is stored or reflected in web pages viewed by other users, creating a persistent threat that can escalate to session hijacking or data exfiltration.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can lead to severe consequences for organizations relying on ColdFusion applications. The attack surface is broad since cfform is a core component used throughout ColdFusion applications for user interaction, making the exploitation widespread across numerous deployed systems. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to user accounts, data theft, session manipulation, and potential establishment of backdoor access points within the application environment. The vulnerability can be leveraged for phishing attacks, where malicious scripts redirect users to fraudulent sites or harvest credentials. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences if user data is compromised through such attacks. The impact extends beyond individual applications to affect entire application ecosystems, as the vulnerability exists at the framework level rather than specific application code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0583 should prioritize immediate patching of affected ColdFusion versions to the latest available releases from Adobe. Organizations must implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices, particularly for all user-supplied data processed through cfform tags. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML escaping mechanisms can provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews to identify all instances where cfform tags are used and ensure proper sanitization of input parameters. Network-based intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor for known malicious patterns associated with XSS attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be performed to verify that all affected applications have been properly secured. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls as additional protective measures, though these should not be considered a complete solution. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that security measures do not inadvertently break existing application functionality while providing adequate protection against the identified vulnerability.