CVE-2016-4159 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion 10 before Update 20, 11 before Update 9, and 2016 before Update 2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4159 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe ColdFusion software. This vulnerability resides within the web application framework's input validation mechanisms and permits remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of victim sessions. The affected versions include Adobe ColdFusion 10 prior to Update 20, ColdFusion 11 prior to Update 9, and ColdFusion 2016 prior to Update 2, indicating a widespread impact across the product lineage. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve improper sanitization of user-supplied input within the ColdFusion application server. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the browser of unsuspecting users who access affected web applications. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and potentially full system compromise through advanced attack chains. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple input points within the ColdFusion framework may be susceptible to this type of injection attack, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for comprehensive exploitation.
From an operational perspective, organizations utilizing affected ColdFusion versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to systems or network proximity to exploit the vulnerability. This makes the attack surface particularly broad and difficult to monitor effectively. The vulnerability's impact on user sessions and web applications can lead to complete compromise of web-based business processes and sensitive data exposure. Security teams must consider that successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate application functionality, steal session cookies, or redirect users to malicious sites as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through patch management to address this vulnerability. The recommended solution involves applying the appropriate Adobe ColdFusion updates that contain fixes for this XSS vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within web applications can provide defense-in-depth protection. Security controls should include web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities. The mitigation strategy should also encompass user education about recognizing suspicious web content and implementing proper access controls to limit the impact of potential successful attacks. Organizations must ensure that their vulnerability management processes include regular updates and security assessments to prevent similar issues from arising in the future, as demonstrated by the importance of maintaining current security patches in accordance with industry best practices.