CVE-2013-0625 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe ColdFusion 9.0, 9.0.1, and 9.0.2, when a password is not configured, allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, as exploited in the wild in January 2013.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2026
Adobe ColdFusion versions 9.0, 9.0.1, and 9.0.2 contained a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that emerged as a significant threat in early 2013. This vulnerability stemmed from the application's handling of authentication mechanisms when no password was configured for the administrative interface. The flaw allowed remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the ColdFusion administrator console without proper credentials, creating a pathway for potential code execution and system compromise. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be exploited without any prior authentication or network access requirements, making it a prime target for automated attacks and widespread exploitation in the wild.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software applications. The flaw occurred in the administrative interface validation process where the system failed to properly verify authentication credentials when no password had been set. This created a logical error in the authentication flow where the application would accept any connection attempt, effectively bypassing the entire authentication mechanism. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple attack pathways existed within the administrative interface, potentially including direct API calls, web interface access, or other administrative endpoints that were not properly secured.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe and widespread across organizations utilizing affected ColdFusion versions. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain full administrative control over ColdFusion servers, enabling them to modify application configurations, access sensitive data, deploy malicious code, and potentially use the compromised servers as launch points for further attacks within network infrastructures. The vulnerability's exploitation in the wild demonstrated that attackers were actively targeting these specific versions, indicating a high level of sophistication and intent behind the attacks. Organizations running these versions faced immediate risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations due to the exposure of critical administrative functions.
The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts usage and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter. The exploitation typically involved connecting to the ColdFusion administrator interface and leveraging the authentication bypass to access administrative functions that could be used for privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and system manipulation. Organizations that had not configured passwords for their ColdFusion administrative interfaces were particularly vulnerable, as the default configuration allowed for immediate access without proper authentication. This vulnerability highlighted the critical importance of proper security configuration management and the necessity of implementing strong authentication mechanisms even for administrative interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate action including applying Adobe's security patches and updates, configuring strong administrative passwords, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces. Organizations should have also implemented monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts and configured proper access controls to restrict administrative interface access to trusted networks only. The vulnerability served as a reminder of the importance of keeping software updated and maintaining proper security configurations, as the issue could have been prevented through proper patch management and security hardening practices. Additionally, organizations should have reviewed their administrative access policies and implemented multi-factor authentication where possible to further reduce the risk of unauthorized access to critical systems.