CVE-2012-0770 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe ColdFusion 8.0, 8.0.1, 9.0, and 9.0.1 computes hash values for form parameters without restricting the ability to trigger hash collisions predictably, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) by sending many crafted parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2021
Adobe ColdFusion versions 8.0 through 9.0.1 contain a critical vulnerability in their hash table implementation that enables remote attackers to exploit a hash collision attack. This vulnerability stems from the insufficient hashing algorithm design that fails to properly handle hash collisions, allowing malicious actors to craft specific form parameters that deliberately trigger hash collisions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-327, which addresses broken cryptographic systems, specifically focusing on weak hash functions that do not adequately resist collision attacks. The root cause lies in how ColdFusion processes form parameters and stores them in hash tables, where the hash function used does not provide sufficient entropy to prevent predictable collision generation. When an attacker sends multiple crafted parameters designed to create hash collisions, the system's hash table performance degrades significantly as it attempts to resolve these collisions, leading to excessive cpu consumption and eventual denial of service conditions. This attack vector operates at the application layer and can be executed without authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the vulnerable web application. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can consume system resources to the point of system instability or complete unavailability of the affected ColdFusion server. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a resource exhaustion attack pattern under the technique T1499.004, specifically targeting application layer resources through hash collision manipulation. The vulnerability affects all versions from 8.0 through 9.0.1, indicating a long-standing issue in the platform's core hashing implementation. Organizations running these versions face significant risk as the attack can be executed through standard web requests, requiring minimal specialized tools or knowledge to implement successfully. The computational overhead occurs during the parameter processing phase when ColdFusion attempts to store form data in its internal hash structures, creating a scenario where the time complexity for hash operations increases dramatically. This vulnerability directly violates security principles related to algorithmic robustness and resistance to denial of service attacks, as the system fails to implement proper collision resistance mechanisms in its hash table implementation. The attack can be amplified through various web application interfaces including form submissions, api endpoints, and any other entry points that process form data, making it a widespread concern across different types of ColdFusion applications. Mitigation strategies include applying the official patches released by Adobe, which address the underlying hash collision vulnerability, or implementing application-level protections such as parameter validation and rate limiting to reduce the impact of such attacks. Additionally, organizations should consider upgrading to newer versions of ColdFusion that have improved hash implementations and better resistance to collision attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of cryptographic algorithm selection and proper implementation practices in web application frameworks, highlighting how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where ColdFusion applications handle sensitive data and critical business processes, as the potential for sustained denial of service attacks could severely impact business operations and customer access to services.