CVE-2017-11286 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe ColdFusion has an XML external entity (XXE) injection vulnerability. This affects Update 4 and earlier versions for ColdFusion 2016, and Update 12 and earlier versions for ColdFusion 11.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2021
Adobe ColdFusion versions 2016 Update 4 and earlier, along with ColdFusion 11 Update 12 and earlier, contain a critical XML external entity injection vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or access sensitive system resources. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the application's XML processing functionality, specifically when handling external entity references in XML documents. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate XML parsers to resolve external entities, potentially leading to server-side request forgery attacks, information disclosure, or denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this XXE vulnerability occurs when ColdFusion applications process XML data without proper sanitization of external entity declarations. Attackers can craft malicious XML payloads that reference external resources, including internal system files, network endpoints, or malicious servers. When the vulnerable ColdFusion application parses these XML documents, the XML parser resolves the external entities, potentially allowing unauthorized access to system files, internal network resources, or even remote code execution depending on the underlying XML processing library configuration. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-611 Information Exposure Through XML External Entity Reference and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for XML External Entity Injection.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11286 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and compromise entire application servers. Organizations running affected ColdFusion versions face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects both ColdFusion 11 and 2016 versions, making it particularly dangerous for enterprises that maintain multiple ColdFusion installations. Attackers can exploit this weakness to read sensitive files such as configuration files, database credentials, or application source code, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected ColdFusion installations to the latest available updates. Organizations should implement strict XML input validation and disable external entity resolution in all XML processing components. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should monitor application logs for suspicious XML processing activities and implement proper access controls for XML configuration files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, particularly in enterprise applications that process untrusted data. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other application components, as XXE vulnerabilities often exist in various frameworks and libraries beyond ColdFusion. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional protection layers against such attacks.