CVE-2026-106620 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE • 10/13/2026
ColdFusion is affected by an Incorrect Authorization vulnerability that could result in a Security feature bypass. A low-privileged attacker could leverage this vulnerability to bypass security measures and gain unauthorized write access. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction. Scope is changed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2026
The identified vulnerability represents a critical failure in the authorization logic within Adobe ColdFusion, specifically categorized as an Incorrect Authorization flaw that leads directly to Security Feature Bypass. This type of defect typically arises when the application fails to properly verify whether the authenticated user has sufficient privileges for a specific action or resource access request. In this instance, the security controls are insufficiently enforced at the server level, allowing requests intended for administrative functions or sensitive data modifications to be processed without validating that the requester holds the necessary high-level permissions. The core technical flaw lies in the application's inability to distinguish between low-privileged user contexts and privileged operational requirements during write operations, effectively rendering access control mechanisms obsolete for specific endpoints or API calls.
From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction and can be exploited remotely by a low-privileged account. An adversary with basic authentication credentials on the ColdFusion server can craft malicious HTTP requests to target these unprotected write operations. By manipulating parameters such as file paths, database inputs, or configuration settings, the attacker can execute unauthorized modifications to system files, application configurations, or stored data. The scope change indicates that the impact extends beyond the immediate user context, potentially affecting other users or the underlying server infrastructure itself. This escalation of privileges allows a standard user to perform actions reserved for administrators, such as deploying new components, altering security settings, or injecting malicious code into existing applications hosted on the platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the ColdFusion environment. Unauthorized write access can lead to full system compromise if the attacker leverages these modifications to upload web shells, modify application logic to include backdoors, or alter database records containing sensitive information. Since exploitation does not require user interaction, automated scanning tools could potentially identify and exploit this weakness across multiple instances in a networked environment without manual intervention from victims. This significantly increases the attack surface and reduces the barrier for entry for threat actors seeking persistent access or data exfiltration capabilities within an organization's infrastructure.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action is required to apply the latest security patches provided by Adobe ColdFusion vendors, which address the underlying authorization checks in the affected versions. Organizations should also implement strict network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict direct internet-facing exposure of ColdFusion administrative interfaces and API endpoints where possible. Additionally, enforcing principle of least privilege for all application accounts ensures that even if such a vulnerability is present or discovered in the future, the potential damage from unauthorized write access remains contained. Regular auditing of user permissions and monitoring logs for anomalous write activities can further enhance detection capabilities against exploitation attempts targeting this class of authorization flaws.