CVE-2026-48319 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 result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. 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 systems that allows attackers to access files and execute code beyond the intended directory boundaries. The issue stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input parameters that are used to construct file paths, enabling malicious actors to manipulate directory navigation sequences such as ../ or ..\ to traverse filesystem directories outside of permitted boundaries. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is classified as a high-severity vulnerability in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when ColdFusion applications process user input without proper sanitization or validation before using it in file system operations. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences in parameters such as file names, paths, or other input fields used in file operations. When the application processes these inputs without adequate filtering, the system interprets the traversal sequences and allows access to files outside the intended restricted directories, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, or arbitrary code execution within the context of the current user account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution without requiring any user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for web applications running ColdFusion. An attacker can leverage this weakness to read sensitive configuration files, access database credentials, retrieve application source code, or even install malicious software on the target system. The vulnerability affects the entire ColdFusion application stack and can compromise multiple components including web applications, services, and underlying operating system resources. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries execute code through legitimate system interfaces.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically follows a pattern where attackers first identify vulnerable endpoints that accept file path parameters, then craft specific payloads containing traversal sequences to access restricted directories. The attack can be automated and does not require user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for applications that are publicly accessible or exposed to untrusted networks. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, proper path normalization, and restrictive file access controls to prevent unauthorized directory traversal attempts.
Mitigation strategies include updating to the latest ColdFusion versions where this vulnerability has been patched, implementing strict input validation for all file operations, deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block traversal attempts, and configuring proper access controls that limit file system permissions. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify any custom applications that might be vulnerable to similar path traversal issues, and establish monitoring procedures to detect suspicious file access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and privilege separation in application security implementations.