CVE-2025-43562 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2025
ColdFusion versions 2025.1, 2023.13, 2021.19 and earlier are affected by an Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. A high-privileged attacker could leverage this vulnerability to bypass security mechanisms and execute code. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction and scope is changed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical os command injection flaw in Adobe ColdFusion versions 2025.1 through 2021.19 and earlier. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into operating system commands, creating a pathway for malicious code execution. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-77 as improper neutralization of special elements used in os command injection, which is a well-established weakness in software security engineering. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that gets executed as system commands, potentially allowing full system compromise when the application runs with elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within ColdFusion's command execution mechanisms. When user-supplied data is directly passed to system commands without proper escaping or filtering, attackers can inject malicious os commands that execute with the privileges of the ColdFusion application user. This creates a dangerous attack surface where remote code execution becomes possible without requiring user interaction, making the vulnerability particularly severe. The exploitation chain typically involves identifying input points that are processed through os command execution functions, crafting malicious payloads that bypass existing security controls, and executing arbitrary commands on the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to bypass multiple security mechanisms within the application environment. A high-privileged attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially access sensitive data, modify system configurations, install malware, or establish persistent access through backdoor mechanisms. The lack of user interaction requirements means that automated exploitation is possible, increasing the attack surface and reducing the time required for successful compromise. This vulnerability affects not just individual applications but potentially entire server infrastructures, especially when ColdFusion applications are configured with elevated privileges or access to critical system resources.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Adobe, implementing robust input validation across all user-facing interfaces, and configuring application firewalls to monitor for suspicious command execution patterns. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be enforced to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. Security monitoring should focus on detecting os command execution attempts and anomalous system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including execution through command and script interpreters, privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities, and persistence mechanisms that could be established through backdoor code execution. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the broader application ecosystem.