CVE-2026-48314 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE • 06/30/2026
ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability that could result in a Security feature bypass. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to gain limited read and write access to unauthorized files or directories outside the intended restrictions. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw affecting Adobe ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20, and earlier releases, which falls under the CWE-22 category of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's file handling mechanisms, allowing attackers to manipulate pathname parameters to access files outside the intended restricted directories. The vulnerability exists in the core file system access controls that should normally prevent unauthorized navigation through directory structures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables attackers to exploit insufficient path validation by crafting malicious requests that traverse directory boundaries using techniques such as directory traversal sequences or null byte injection. When ColdFusion processes these malformed pathname requests, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before performing file system operations, thereby allowing access to sensitive files and directories that should remain protected within the application's designated security boundaries. This bypasses essential security features designed to restrict file system access based on user privileges and application contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential data compromise and system integrity violations. Attackers can leverage this weakness to read sensitive configuration files, application source code, database credentials, or other confidential data stored outside the intended application directories. The vulnerability also enables write access capabilities that could allow attackers to modify critical application components, inject malicious code, or establish persistent access points within the affected systems. Since exploitation does not require user interaction, this creates a particularly dangerous scenario where automated attacks can target vulnerable installations without any human intervention.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Adobe which address the path traversal vulnerability through enhanced input validation and proper pathname sanitization. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to ColdFusion administrative interfaces and sensitive endpoints. The principle of least privilege must be enforced by ensuring that ColdFusion applications run with minimal required permissions and that file system access is strictly limited to authorized directories. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for path traversal attacks and represents a significant risk to compliance requirements under standards such as iso 27001 and pci dss that mandate proper input validation and access controls.