CVE-2022-38423 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2022
Adobe ColdFusion versions Update 14 (and earlier) and Update 4 (and earlier) are affected by an Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability that could result in information disclosure. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction, but does require administrator privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2022
Adobe ColdFusion contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows attackers with administrator privileges to access files outside the intended directory boundaries. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input that is used to construct file paths within the application's file system operations. The flaw exists in the way ColdFusion processes file access requests, particularly in components that handle file uploads, downloads, or directory listings where user input directly influences the target file path. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, making it a classic path traversal flaw that can be exploited to access sensitive system files, configuration data, or other restricted resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when administrator-level input is processed without proper sanitization or validation of directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\. When ColdFusion receives requests that include these sequences in file path parameters, the application fails to properly resolve or restrict the path to the intended directory structure. This allows an attacker with administrative access to navigate to arbitrary directories on the server filesystem and potentially read files that should be restricted. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only administrator privileges to exploit, meaning that an attacker who has already gained administrative access to the ColdFusion instance can leverage this flaw to escalate their access further or extract sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can provide attackers with access to critical system files, application configuration data, database connection strings, and potentially sensitive source code or application logic. The attack vector does not require user interaction, meaning that once an attacker has administrative credentials, they can immediately exploit this vulnerability without additional social engineering or user engagement. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrators may have broader system access or where credential compromise occurs through other means. The vulnerability affects both ColdFusion Update 14 and earlier versions, as well as Update 4 and earlier versions, indicating that this flaw has existed across multiple releases and likely represents a fundamental issue in the file access handling code.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches that address this path traversal vulnerability in their ColdFusion installations. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures can help mitigate the risk even if the primary patch is not immediately available. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns or attempts to traverse directory structures that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, as it leverages existing administrative access to perform unauthorized file system operations. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of administrative credential compromise, as this vulnerability essentially allows attackers to bypass directory restrictions once they have administrative privileges. Regular security assessments should include verification that file access operations properly validate and restrict user input to prevent similar path traversal scenarios in other applications or components.