CVE-2026-48318 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2026
ColdFusion is affected by an Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary file system read. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive files and directories outside the intended access scope. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction. Scope is changed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw in Adobe ColdFusion that allows attackers to bypass directory restrictions and access arbitrary files on the underlying file system. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of file paths during file operations, enabling malicious actors to manipulate input parameters to navigate outside designated directories. According to CWE-22, this classification specifically addresses weaknesses in software that fail to properly limit pathname components, creating opportunities for unauthorized access to sensitive resources. The attack vector requires no user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically through web-based interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when ColdFusion processes file operations without adequate sanitization of user-supplied input. Attackers can craft malicious requests that utilize directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to move up directory levels and access files outside the intended scope. This flaw affects various ColdFusion components including file upload handlers, document processing functions, and content management systems where file path resolution occurs. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise through access to configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other sensitive artifacts.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations running ColdFusion applications as it enables unauthorized data access without requiring user interaction or authentication. The exploitation process typically involves sending crafted HTTP requests that include path traversal sequences in parameters such as file names, directory paths, or resource identifiers. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing), as attackers can use it to gather intelligence about system configurations and potentially escalate privileges through access to sensitive files. The scope change mentioned in the description indicates that while initially limited to specific components, the vulnerability may affect broader application functionality.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies including input validation, directory restriction enforcement, and proper file path handling mechanisms. System administrators must ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before being used in file operations, with special attention to characters such as .., /, and \ that could enable traversal attacks. The implementation of strict access controls and least privilege principles can significantly reduce the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security updates and patches from Adobe should be applied immediately, as the company has likely released remediation measures for this specific vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual file system access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on requests containing path traversal sequences.