CVE-2018-15965 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 and has been widely adopted across various industries for creating complex web applications. The July 12 2018 release and subsequent updates through Update 6 and Update 14 contain a critical vulnerability in their object serialization and deserialization mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from the platform's handling of serialized data structures that are passed through web requests or other communication channels. When ColdFusion processes serialized objects from untrusted sources without proper validation or sanitization, it creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious serialized data that can be executed within the application context.
The technical flaw manifests in the deserialization process where ColdFusion's internal mechanisms attempt to reconstruct objects from serialized data without adequate security checks. This vulnerability specifically affects the way the platform handles serialized Java objects that are transmitted through web requests or stored in memory. Attackers can craft malicious serialized objects that, when processed by the vulnerable ColdFusion application, trigger arbitrary code execution on the server. The vulnerability is categorized as a deserialization flaw that aligns with CWE-502 which describes "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" as a critical security weakness. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the ColdFusion application server, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a powerful foothold within enterprise environments. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, complete system compromise, and potential lateral movement within network infrastructures. Organizations running vulnerable ColdFusion installations face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations. The vulnerability affects both the July 12 2018 release and earlier updates, meaning that organizations with older installations are particularly at risk. The attack surface is broad since serialized data can be passed through various communication channels including web forms, API endpoints, and session management mechanisms within ColdFusion applications. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors that align with ATT&CK technique T1059 007 which describes "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1203 which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution."
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Adobe which address this deserialization vulnerability in the affected ColdFusion versions. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable ColdFusion instances. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for suspicious serialized data patterns in web application logs and implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious serialization attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly when handling data that may originate from untrusted sources. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all ColdFusion installations within their environments and ensure that all systems are updated to patched versions that mitigate this deserialization flaw. Regular security testing and monitoring of application behavior can help detect exploitation attempts and prevent successful compromise of vulnerable systems.