CVE-2014-0572 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe ColdFusion 9.0 before Update 13, 9.0.1 before Update 12, 9.0.2 before Update 7, 10 before Update 14, and 11 before Update 2 allows local users to bypass intended IP-based access restrictions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2022
Adobe ColdFusion versions prior to specific update releases contain a critical security flaw that enables local attackers to circumvent IP-based access controls through unspecified vectors. This vulnerability affects multiple major versions including ColdFusion 9.0 through 9.0.2, ColdFusion 10, and ColdFusion 11, all before their respective security patches. The flaw resides in how the application handles access restriction mechanisms, allowing unauthorized local users to gain access to resources that should be limited to specific IP addresses or ranges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of access control mechanisms within the ColdFusion runtime environment. When administrators configure IP-based restrictions to limit access to administrative interfaces or sensitive resources, the system fails to properly enforce these boundaries for local users. This represents a classic bypass vulnerability where the intended security controls are circumvented through manipulation of local system access or exploitation of internal access control logic. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths exist, potentially including manipulation of request headers, exploitation of local file access, or abuse of internal application state management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations utilizing Adobe ColdFusion as their primary web application platform. Local attackers who gain access to the system can bypass network-level restrictions that were intended to protect administrative interfaces, sensitive data, and critical system functions. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other local access methods. Attackers could potentially access administrative panels, modify system configurations, extract sensitive data, or deploy malicious code without proper authentication. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where ColdFusion serves as a central application server handling multiple business-critical applications and services.
Organizations should immediately implement the security updates provided by Adobe for each affected version to remediate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the specific update releases mentioned in the CVE description, which address the underlying access control bypass mechanism. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their ColdFusion installations, reviewing all IP-based access restrictions and ensuring proper enforcement of access controls. Network segmentation and additional layers of security should be implemented to minimize the impact of potential local access. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues, and may map to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring and logging of access control events to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails for security investigations.