CVE-2014-2868 in Commonspot Content Server
Summary
by MITRE
PaperThin CommonSpot before 7.0.2 and 8.x before 8.0.3 allows remote attackers to modify the flow of execution of ColdFusion code by using an HTTP GET request to set a ColdFusion variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2868 represents a critical security flaw in PaperThin CommonSpot content management system versions prior to 7.0.2 and 8.x versions before 8.0.3. This issue manifests as an insecure direct object reference vulnerability that enables remote attackers to manipulate the execution flow of ColdFusion applications through carefully crafted HTTP GET requests. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's parameter handling processes, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary ColdFusion variables directly into the request parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP GET request that includes specific parameter names and values designed to influence ColdFusion variable assignments within the application's runtime environment. This manipulation can potentially lead to unauthorized code execution, data manipulation, or privilege escalation depending on the application's configuration and the specific variables being controlled. The flaw exists because the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into the ColdFusion execution context, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass normal access controls and modify application behavior.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing PaperThin CommonSpot systems, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to compromise application integrity and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or system resources. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this flaw from outside the network perimeter without requiring any local access or authentication credentials. The impact extends beyond simple data modification, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to the underlying infrastructure.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and its alignment with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for versions 7.0.2 and 8.0.3, implementing robust input validation mechanisms, and configuring web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious GET request patterns. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potential injection points within their CommonSpot implementations and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous parameter usage patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.