CVE-2022-42341 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 Restriction of XML External Entity Reference ('XXE') vulnerability that could result in arbitrary file system read. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2022
Adobe ColdFusion is a web application development platform that enables organizations to build and deploy dynamic web applications. The vulnerability CVE-2022-42341 represents a critical improper restriction of XML external entity reference flaw that affects multiple versions of the ColdFusion platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-611 category, which specifically addresses XML external entity processing vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from local system. The flaw exists in how ColdFusion handles XML parsing operations, particularly when processing user-supplied XML input through the cfxml tag or other XML processing functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to craft malicious XML payloads that reference external entities, potentially enabling arbitrary file system read access. When ColdFusion processes XML input containing external entity references, it fails to properly restrict or validate these references, allowing attackers to access sensitive files on the underlying operating system. This occurs because the XML parser does not disable external entity resolution by default, creating a pathway for attackers to read local files such as configuration files, database connection details, or other sensitive system information. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions Update 14 and earlier, as well as Update 4 and earlier, indicating a widespread issue affecting multiple release branches of the platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution capabilities without requiring any user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for web applications. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access sensitive system information, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability's accessibility means that any system running affected ColdFusion versions is at risk, regardless of network segmentation or access controls, as the attack can be initiated from any location with network access to the vulnerable application. This creates a significant risk for organizations that host web applications using ColdFusion, particularly those with exposed web servers or applications handling user input.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest ColdFusion versions that contain patches for this vulnerability, as well as implementing XML parser configurations that disable external entity resolution. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to ColdFusion applications, deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter XML traffic, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected systems. Additionally, organizations should review their XML processing implementations to ensure proper input validation and sanitization, particularly for any custom XML handling code that might be vulnerable to similar XXE attacks. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing new compatibility issues in existing applications.