CVE-2018-15959 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe ColdFusion versions July 12 release (2018.0.0.310739), Update 6 and earlier, and Update 14 and earlier have a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2025
Adobe ColdFusion is a web application development platform that enables developers to build and deploy dynamic web applications using the ColdFusion Markup Language. The platform serves as a comprehensive solution for enterprise web development, providing features such as database connectivity, security management, and application deployment capabilities. The July 12 2018 release and subsequent versions up to Update 6 and Update 14 contain a critical deserialization vulnerability that affects the platform's security architecture. This vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of serialized data objects during the deserialization process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw exists in the platform's object serialization mechanism where untrusted data is processed without adequate validation or sanitization. When ColdFusion receives serialized data from external sources, it attempts to reconstruct the objects without sufficient security checks, allowing attackers to craft malicious serialized payloads that can trigger unintended code execution. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-502 as deserialization of untrusted data, which represents a well-known attack vector in web application security. The vulnerability affects the platform's core functionality by enabling attackers to leverage the deserialization process to bypass security controls and execute malicious code with the privileges of the ColdFusion application. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially allow full system compromise, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the underlying server infrastructure. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078 for valid accounts, as successful exploitation typically requires the attacker to gain initial access through the vulnerable deserialization mechanism and then leverage the elevated privileges of the ColdFusion service account. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, data theft, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within network environments where ColdFusion servers are deployed. Organizations running affected versions of ColdFusion face significant risk exposure as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves the platform's handling of serialized Java objects within the ColdFusion runtime environment. When the application processes serialized data, it fails to implement proper input validation and object type checking, allowing attackers to inject malicious serialized objects that contain executable code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because the deserialization process occurs automatically during normal application operation, meaning that any untrusted data passed to the platform's serialization functions can potentially trigger exploitation. Attackers can craft serialized payload objects that, when processed by ColdFusion, will execute arbitrary commands on the server. The vulnerability exists in the platform's internal serialization libraries and affects multiple components including the application server, web server integration, and various ColdFusion administrator functions. This weakness allows for privilege escalation attacks where attackers can execute code with the same privileges as the ColdFusion service account, which often has extensive system access rights. The attack surface includes any application or service that relies on ColdFusion's serialization capabilities, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where ColdFusion is used for mission-critical applications.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of Adobe ColdFusion as recommended by Adobe's security advisories. The patch addresses the deserialization vulnerability by implementing proper input validation and object type checking during the deserialization process. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to ColdFusion servers, and access controls should be strengthened to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual serialization activity and unauthorized access attempts to ColdFusion administrative interfaces. The recommended mitigation strategy includes disabling unnecessary serialization functionality where possible and implementing strict input validation for all data received by ColdFusion applications. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running unpatched versions and ensure proper patch management processes are in place to prevent future incidents. Compliance with security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 should be maintained to ensure proper security controls are implemented. Regular security testing and penetration testing should be conducted to validate the effectiveness of implemented mitigations and identify any additional vulnerabilities that may exist within the ColdFusion environment.