CVE-2025-30284: Adobe ColdFusion RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-30284 Overview

CVE-2025-30284 is a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability [CWE-502] affecting Adobe ColdFusion versions 2023.12, 2021.18, 2025.0, and earlier. The flaw allows a high-privileged authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction and results in a scope change, meaning the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component. Adobe addressed the issue in security bulletin APSB25-15.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation enables arbitrary code execution on the ColdFusion server, allowing attackers to bypass security protections and compromise the host application context.

Affected Products

Adobe ColdFusion 2021 (Update 18 and earlier)
Adobe ColdFusion 2023 (Update 12 and earlier)
Adobe ColdFusion 2025.0

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-08 - CVE-2025-30284 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-30284

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from insecure deserialization of untrusted data within Adobe ColdFusion. When ColdFusion processes serialized objects from an attacker-controlled source, it reconstructs Java objects without sufficient validation of the inbound data stream. This unsafe object reconstruction can invoke gadget chains present in the ColdFusion classpath, leading to arbitrary code execution.

The attack requires a high-privileged account and user interaction, which limits opportunistic exploitation. However, the scope change indicates that code executes outside the immediate security boundary of the vulnerable component. The EPSS probability of 1.74% places this issue in the 74th percentile for exploitation likelihood.

Root Cause

The root cause is the deserialization of attacker-influenced data without strict type filtering or allowlisting [CWE-502]. ColdFusion's Java-based runtime exposes serialization endpoints that accept binary or encoded object data. When such data is processed by ObjectInputStream or equivalent paths without a ObjectInputFilter, malicious payloads can trigger method invocations during object reconstruction.

Attack Vector

An authenticated attacker with high privileges supplies a crafted serialized payload to a ColdFusion endpoint that performs deserialization. User interaction is required to trigger the unsafe code path. Upon deserialization, gadget chains execute arbitrary commands in the context of the ColdFusion process. Refer to the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory APSB25-15 for vendor-confirmed technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-30284

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by the ColdFusion JVM (coldfusion.exe, jrun.exe, or java processes invoking cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or /bin/sh).
Outbound network connections from the ColdFusion server to unfamiliar hosts shortly after authenticated administrative activity.
New or modified .cfm, .cfc, or .jsp files in ColdFusion web roots, particularly in CFIDE or wwwroot directories.
Anomalous serialized object payloads in HTTP request bodies or query parameters submitted to administrative endpoints.

Detection Strategies

Monitor ColdFusion application and access logs for authenticated administrator sessions submitting unusual binary or base64-encoded payloads.
Inspect Java stack traces in coldfusion-out.log and exception.log for ObjectInputStream.readObject calls preceding command execution.
Correlate high-privileged ColdFusion logins with subsequent process creation events on the underlying host.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging on the ColdFusion Administrator and review authentication events for anomalies.
Forward host process creation, file integrity, and ColdFusion application logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation.
Alert on any new executables or scripts written to ColdFusion web-accessible directories.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-30284

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the Adobe security update referenced in APSB25-15 to upgrade ColdFusion 2021, 2023, and 2025 installations to the patched releases.
Restrict access to the ColdFusion Administrator interface to trusted management networks only.
Audit and reduce the number of high-privileged ColdFusion accounts to minimize the exploitation surface.

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds for ColdFusion 2021, 2023, and 2025 as documented in the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory APSB25-15. Administrators should install the latest cumulative update for their supported version and apply the ColdFusion lockdown guide post-update.

Workarounds

Enforce strong authentication and multi-factor authentication for all ColdFusion administrative accounts.
Apply the ColdFusion Lockdown Guide to remove unnecessary components and restrict deserialization endpoints.
Place a web application firewall in front of ColdFusion to inspect and block serialized object payloads on administrative paths.
Run ColdFusion under a least-privilege service account to limit the impact of code execution.

bash

# Configuration example: restrict ColdFusion Administrator to internal management network
# (nginx reverse proxy snippet)
location /CFIDE/administrator/ {
    allow 10.0.0.0/24;
    deny all;
    proxy_pass http://coldfusion_backend;
}