CVE-2026-106619 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2026
ColdFusion is affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code. Exploit depends on conditions beyond the attacker's control. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction. Scope is changed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2026
The identified vulnerability represents a critical security flaw within Adobe ColdFusion, classified fundamentally as an Improper Input Validation error. This category of weakness occurs when software fails to adequately verify or sanitize input data before processing it, allowing malicious actors to inject unintended commands or code into the application logic. In this specific instance, the lack of rigorous validation enables an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution within the security context of the current user running the ColdFusion service. This is a severe outcome because it grants the attacker a level of access equivalent to that of the underlying operating system account hosting the web server, potentially leading to full system compromise if the service runs with elevated privileges or if lateral movement opportunities exist on the network.
The technical mechanism behind this flaw likely involves specific endpoints or API functions within ColdFusion where user-supplied data is processed without sufficient checks for malicious payloads such as shell commands, script injections, or serialized objects designed for exploitation. The vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass standard security controls by manipulating input parameters in a way that the application interprets as legitimate code rather than raw data. This misinterpretation leads to the execution of arbitrary system-level commands, effectively breaking the isolation between the web application and the host operating environment. Such flaws are often rooted in legacy code paths or complex parsing engines where edge cases were not adequately tested during development, leaving a gap that can be exploited programmatically without requiring any graphical user interface interaction from a victim.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability is profound due to its remote exploitability and lack of dependency on user interaction. An attacker does not need to trick a specific individual into clicking a link or opening a file; instead, they can target the service directly over the network using automated tools. This significantly lowers the barrier for entry, making it attractive to opportunistic attackers scanning for vulnerable instances across the internet. The scope change mentioned in the vulnerability description indicates that the impact extends beyond just the immediate application context, potentially affecting other components or data stores accessible by the ColdFusion process. If an attacker gains code execution capabilities, they can read sensitive configuration files, exfiltrate database contents, install backdoors for persistent access, or use the compromised server as a pivot point to attack internal network resources.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action is required at both the infrastructure and application levels. The primary remediation step is to apply the latest security patches provided by Adobe ColdFusion, which address the specific input validation gaps identified in this vulnerability. Organizations should verify that their patching cycle includes regular updates for all middleware components, not just operating systems or databases. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible due to compatibility concerns, network-level controls such as Web Application Firewalls can be configured to detect and block known exploit patterns associated with ColdFusion input validation flaws. Additionally, administrators should enforce the principle of least privilege by ensuring that the ColdFusion service runs under a dedicated, low-privilege account rather than an administrator or root account, thereby limiting the potential damage if exploitation occurs. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are also recommended to identify similar weaknesses in custom code before they can be exploited in production environments. This approach aligns with industry standards such as CWE-20 for Improper Input Validation and MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to command injection and remote service exploitation, ensuring a comprehensive defense strategy against this class of threats.