CVE-2024-45113 Overview
CVE-2024-45113 is an Improper Authentication vulnerability [CWE-287] affecting Adobe ColdFusion versions 2023.6, 2021.12, and earlier. The flaw allows a network-based attacker to bypass authentication controls and escalate privileges without user interaction. Successful exploitation impacts the integrity of the affected application, enabling unauthorized modification of application data and state. Adobe addressed the issue in security bulletin APSB24-14. The vulnerability is reachable over the network with low attack complexity and no privileges required, which raises its exposure profile for internet-facing ColdFusion deployments.
Critical Impact
An unauthenticated remote attacker can bypass authentication on vulnerable ColdFusion servers and escalate privileges, compromising application integrity.
Affected Products
- Adobe ColdFusion 2023 (Update 6 and earlier)
- Adobe ColdFusion 2021 (Update 12 and earlier)
- Adobe ColdFusion earlier supported releases
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-09-13 - CVE CVE-2024-45113 published to NVD
- 2024-09-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-45113
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from improper authentication logic within Adobe ColdFusion. An attacker who reaches the application over the network can perform actions reserved for higher-privileged roles without presenting valid credentials. Because exploitation requires no user interaction and no prior authentication, ColdFusion servers exposed to untrusted networks face direct exposure.
The impact is scoped to the integrity dimension. Attackers can modify application state, configuration, or data accessible through privileged operations. Confidentiality and availability impacts are not the primary outcome of this specific flaw, but downstream effects depend on how the affected ColdFusion instance is integrated with backend systems and content stores.
Root Cause
The root cause is an authentication weakness classified under [CWE-287] Improper Authentication. ColdFusion fails to correctly validate the identity or authorization context for certain requests, allowing privilege escalation paths that should be restricted to authenticated administrators or trusted roles.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based. An attacker sends crafted requests to an exposed ColdFusion endpoint and obtains elevated privileges without credentials or user interaction. Internet-facing ColdFusion administrative interfaces and API endpoints represent the highest-risk exposure surface. Adobe has not reported in-the-wild exploitation for this CVE at the time of publication, and it is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
No public proof-of-concept code has been released for CVE-2024-45113. Refer to the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory APSB24-14 for vendor-provided technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-45113
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected successful access to ColdFusion Administrator (/CFIDE/administrator/) or API endpoints from external IP addresses without preceding authentication events.
- Creation or modification of ColdFusion scheduled tasks, data sources, or admin users that do not correlate with change management records.
- New or modified .cfm or .cfc files in webroot directories appearing without a corresponding deployment.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect ColdFusion access and application logs for requests to administrative paths that succeed without a matching authenticated session identifier.
- Correlate web server logs with authentication audit records to surface privilege-bearing actions taken by unauthenticated or anonymous sessions.
- Hunt for outbound connections from the ColdFusion process (coldfusion.exe, jrun.exe, or the JVM hosting CF) to unfamiliar hosts following suspicious inbound activity.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward ColdFusion logs, IIS or Apache access logs, and host process telemetry to a centralized analytics platform for correlation.
- Alert on changes to ColdFusion administrator accounts, data source definitions, and scheduled tasks.
- Monitor for child processes spawned by the ColdFusion JVM, particularly shells, scripting engines, or LOLBins.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-45113
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the updates referenced in Adobe security bulletin APSB24-14 to ColdFusion 2023 and 2021 installations as the primary remediation.
- Restrict network access to the ColdFusion Administrator and internal API endpoints to trusted management networks only.
- Audit ColdFusion administrator accounts, scheduled tasks, and data sources for unauthorized modifications.
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed builds for ColdFusion 2023 and ColdFusion 2021 that address CVE-2024-45113. Administrators should consult the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory APSB24-14 for the exact patched update levels and installation guidance. Apply the vendor-supplied update for each ColdFusion track in use.
Workarounds
- Place ColdFusion behind a reverse proxy or web application firewall configured to block external access to /CFIDE/administrator/ and related management paths.
- Enforce network segmentation so ColdFusion management interfaces are reachable only from VPN or jump-host networks.
- Disable unused ColdFusion services and modules to reduce the attack surface until patching is complete.
# Example: Restrict access to ColdFusion Administrator paths via web server config
# Apache httpd snippet
<LocationMatch "^/CFIDE/(administrator|adminapi)">
Require ip 10.0.0.0/8
Require ip 192.168.0.0/16
</LocationMatch>
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
