CVE-2026-48332 in ColdFusion
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2026
ColdFusion is affected by a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability that could result in a Security feature bypass. A low-privileged attacker could leverage this vulnerability to bypass security measures and gain unauthorized read access. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction. Scope is changed.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw in Adobe ColdFusion that fundamentally undermines the application's security architecture. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input parameters that are subsequently used to construct HTTP requests to external resources. When ColdFusion processes these requests without proper sanitization, it creates an avenue for attackers to manipulate the target of outbound communications, potentially allowing them to access internal network resources that should remain protected. The flaw operates at the application layer where legitimate service calls are made to external systems, but the input validation mechanism fails to properly constrain the destination addresses or protocols being utilized.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-918, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery conditions where applications fail to properly validate and sanitize URLs or other network resource identifiers. This weakness enables attackers to redirect requests through the vulnerable ColdFusion server to internal systems that would normally be inaccessible from external networks. The attack vector operates entirely through HTTP requests without requiring any interactive user elements, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically through automated scanning tools or malicious scripts. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data exfiltration since it can potentially allow enumeration of internal network services, access to sensitive databases, and even facilitate further exploitation of other systems within the trusted network perimeter.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on ColdFusion for web application hosting, as it essentially provides an unauthorized bridge into internal infrastructure. The low privilege requirement for exploitation means that even attackers with minimal access to the application can leverage this flaw to bypass security controls and gain read access to resources that should be protected. The scope of impact is particularly concerning because it affects the fundamental trust model of the web application, allowing attackers to circumvent network segmentation and access systems that are typically isolated from direct internet exposure. This vulnerability also demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege as the application fails to properly isolate external request processing from internal resource access.
Organizations must implement multiple layers of mitigation to address this vulnerability effectively. Network-level firewalls should be configured to restrict outbound connections from ColdFusion servers to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Application-level controls including strict input validation, URL whitelisting mechanisms, and comprehensive proxy configuration can help prevent unauthorized external communications. Additionally, implementing proper network segmentation and using dedicated application firewalls can limit the scope of potential attacks even if exploitation occurs. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring for unusual outbound network patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as well as implementing robust patch management processes to ensure timely remediation of known vulnerabilities.
This vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for server-side request forgery attacks. The attack pattern demonstrates how modern web applications can become unwitting conduits for internal network reconnaissance and access, making it a critical concern for enterprise security teams. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat modeling exercises to understand potential lateral movement paths that attackers might use to expand their access within the network infrastructure. The remediation approach must address both immediate patching requirements and longer-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of the application stack.