CVE-2026-34633 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE • 10/14/2026
ColdFusion is affected by a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability that could result in privilege escalation. A low-privileged attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated access to internal resources. 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 Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) flaw within Adobe ColdFusion, specifically impacting the application's ability to validate and sanitize outbound network requests initiated by server-side components. In a typical SSRF scenario, an attacker tricks the server into making unintended HTTP or other protocol-based connections to internal resources that are otherwise inaccessible from the external internet. However, in this specific instance, the severity is amplified because the vulnerability facilitates privilege escalation. This means that even if the initial entry point requires only low-privileged credentials or anonymous access, successful exploitation allows the attacker to bypass standard security boundaries and execute actions with higher privileges, effectively compromising the integrity of the entire application environment.
From a technical perspective, this flaw likely stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input used in functions that perform network operations, such as HTTP requests, file uploads via URL, or integration endpoints. When an attacker provides a maliciously crafted payload targeting internal IP addresses, localhost loops, or cloud metadata services, the ColdFusion server processes these requests without adequate checks to ensure they are directed solely toward authorized external destinations. The absence of strict allow-listing for outbound connections enables the application to act as a proxy for the attacker, reaching sensitive backend systems such as database servers, internal APIs, or configuration management tools that reside within the protected network perimeter but are not exposed publicly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for privilege escalation and lack of user interaction requirements. Since exploitation does not require user interaction, automated scanning tools can detect and exploit this weakness remotely without needing a victim to click on a malicious link or open a specific file. Once exploited, the attacker gains elevated access to internal resources, which may include sensitive data stores, administrative interfaces, or other microservices within the organization's infrastructure. This escalation transforms a low-impact issue into a high-severity breach, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement across the network. The change in scope indicates that the vulnerability affects multiple components of the ColdFusion suite, broadening the attack surface significantly compared to isolated instances.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must immediately apply the latest security patches provided by Adobe for their specific version of ColdFusion. In addition to patching, it is crucial to implement network-level controls such as egress filtering on firewalls and proxy servers to restrict outbound connections from application servers to only known and necessary external endpoints. Internal services should be segmented using micro-segmentation strategies so that even if an SSRF attack succeeds in reaching internal IPs, the attacker cannot easily pivot to critical systems. Furthermore, developers should review any custom code utilizing HTTP client libraries or remote file inclusion features to ensure strict input validation and URL allow-listing are enforced at the application layer. Monitoring network traffic for anomalous outbound connections from ColdFusion servers can also aid in early detection of exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-918, which defines Server-Side Request Forgery as a weakness where web applications retrieve data from a server specified by the user without validating that request. Additionally, it maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1557, specifically Adversary-in-the-Middle or Lateral Tool Transfer variants depending on how the internal resources are accessed, and potentially T1046 for Network Service Discovery if used to map internal networks. The privilege escalation aspect relates to CWE-269, Improper Privilege Management, highlighting the failure in maintaining proper access control boundaries during request processing. Addressing these issues requires a defense-in-depth approach combining patch management, network segmentation, and rigorous input validation protocols.