CVE-2011-0737 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe ColdFusion 9.0.1 CHF1 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via an id=- query to a .cfm file, which reveals the installation path in an error message. NOTE: the vendor disputes the significance of this issue because the Site-wide Error Handler and Debug Output Settings sections of the ColdFusion Lockdown guide explain the requirement for settings that prevent this information disclosure
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2024
Adobe ColdFusion versions 9.0.1 and earlier contain a sensitive information disclosure vulnerability that arises from improper error handling mechanisms within the application framework. This vulnerability manifests when a remote attacker submits a malformed query parameter containing id=- to a .cfm file, which triggers an error message that inadvertently reveals the system's installation path. The flaw represents a classic information disclosure weakness that can provide adversaries with critical system metadata that would otherwise remain hidden from unauthorized access. According to the vendor's assessment, this issue is categorized as low severity because proper configuration settings exist within the ColdFusion Lockdown guide that can prevent such disclosures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which defines information exposure as a weakness where system information is disclosed to unauthorized users through improper error handling or debugging mechanisms. This type of vulnerability directly supports the ATT&CK technique T1082, Information Discovery, where adversaries gather system information to understand the target environment and identify potential attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's default error handling behavior when processing invalid or malformed input parameters. When the id=- parameter is processed, the ColdFusion runtime generates an error message that includes the full file path where the application is installed, effectively providing attackers with the exact location of the ColdFusion installation directory on the server filesystem. This information disclosure can serve as a crucial stepping stone for attackers planning more sophisticated attacks, as it reveals the underlying file structure and potentially exposes other configuration details. The vulnerability specifically affects the Site-wide Error Handler functionality, which is designed to manage error conditions but fails to properly sanitize output when error conditions occur. Security researchers have noted that this weakness demonstrates poor input validation and error handling practices, where the application does not adequately filter or escape error messages before displaying them to users. The flaw exists because the system's default settings do not enforce strict output sanitization, allowing potentially sensitive information to leak through error reporting mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with foundational knowledge about the target environment that can facilitate subsequent exploitation attempts. While the vendor's position suggests that proper configuration can mitigate the risk, the default installation state of ColdFusion 9.0.1 and earlier versions leaves systems vulnerable until administrators explicitly implement the recommended lockdown measures. Organizations running these older versions of ColdFusion face potential risks including system reconnaissance, privilege escalation attempts, and more sophisticated attacks that leverage the disclosed installation paths to target specific system components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure configuration management practices, as the issue can be easily remediated through proper security hardening procedures outlined in industry standards such as the Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks. This type of information disclosure vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in environments where ColdFusion applications are deployed without proper network segmentation or additional security controls.
Organizations should implement the security recommendations provided in the ColdFusion Lockdown guide, which specifically addresses this vulnerability through configuration changes in the Site-wide Error Handler and Debug Output Settings sections. The recommended mitigations include disabling error messages that contain system information, configuring proper error handling routines that do not expose installation paths, and implementing strict input validation for all query parameters. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to filter out potentially malicious queries before they reach the ColdFusion application, and establish regular security audits to ensure that proper configurations remain in place. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following security best practices and maintaining up-to-date security configurations, as the default behavior of the application creates an unnecessary attack surface that can be easily exploited by threat actors. Organizations should also consider upgrading to supported versions of ColdFusion where these issues have been properly addressed through improved error handling mechanisms and enhanced security defaults.