CVE-2025-30290 Overview
CVE-2025-30290 is a path traversal vulnerability ([CWE-22]) affecting Adobe ColdFusion versions 2023.12, 2021.18, 2025.0, and earlier. The flaw allows a high-privileged attacker to bypass security protections and gain unauthorized write and delete access to files outside the intended directory. Exploitation does not require user interaction, and the scope is changed, meaning the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component. Adobe addressed the issue in security bulletin APSB25-15. The vulnerability carries notable exploitation potential, with an EPSS score placing it in the 95th percentile of vulnerabilities tracked.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can write and delete arbitrary files on the ColdFusion server, enabling persistence, data destruction, and potential lateral movement across hosted applications.
Affected Products
- Adobe ColdFusion 2021 through Update 18
- Adobe ColdFusion 2023 through Update 12
- Adobe ColdFusion 2025.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-08 - CVE-2025-30290 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-30290
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is classified as Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ([CWE-22]). ColdFusion fails to fully canonicalize or validate user-supplied file path input before performing write or delete operations. An attacker authenticated with high privileges can craft pathname inputs containing traversal sequences such as ../ to escape the intended directory boundary. The result is unauthorized modification of files anywhere the ColdFusion service process has filesystem permissions. Because the CVSS scope is changed, the impacted resources extend beyond the ColdFusion application itself to other components on the host. Integrity and availability are both impacted, while confidentiality is not directly affected by this flaw.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient validation of file path parameters in ColdFusion administrative or file-handling functionality. Path normalization routines do not reject input containing parent directory references or absolute paths that fall outside the application's restricted base directory. This permits write and delete operations against files that should be inaccessible to the caller.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires high privileges on the ColdFusion instance, typically an authenticated administrator or operator account. No user interaction is required. An attacker submits a crafted request to an affected file operation endpoint, supplying a traversed pathname. The server processes the request and performs the write or delete action at the resolved path. Successful exploitation allows planting of malicious .cfm files for follow-on remote code execution, overwriting configuration files, or deleting critical application data.
No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been verified for this CVE. Refer to the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory APSB25-15 for vendor technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-30290
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected .cfm, .cfc, or .jsp files appearing in ColdFusion webroot or WEB-INF directories outside normal deployment activity.
- Web access logs containing requests with encoded or raw traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, %2e%2e%5c) directed at ColdFusion administrator endpoints.
- File modification or deletion events on ColdFusion configuration files such as neo-security.xml or seed.properties without corresponding administrative change records.
- Authentication events for ColdFusion administrator accounts originating from unusual source IPs or at atypical hours.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect ColdFusion application and HTTP server logs for path traversal patterns submitted to authenticated endpoints under /CFIDE/administrator/.
- Monitor filesystem audit logs for write or delete operations performed by the ColdFusion service account outside its application directories.
- Correlate administrator session activity with file change events to identify unauthorized file operations following privileged logins.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on the ColdFusion Administrator and forward logs to a centralized SIEM for retention and correlation.
- Establish file integrity monitoring (FIM) on ColdFusion installation directories, web roots, and shared OS configuration paths.
- Alert on creation of new executable ColdFusion templates outside scheduled deployment windows.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-30290
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply Adobe's security updates referenced in APSB25-15 to ColdFusion 2021, 2023, and 2025 installations without delay.
- Audit all ColdFusion administrator and high-privileged accounts, rotate credentials, and remove unused accounts.
- Review web and filesystem logs for prior exploitation indicators before and after patching.
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed builds for ColdFusion 2021, 2023, and 2025 in security bulletin APSB25-15. Administrators should upgrade to the latest update level for each supported branch. Versions prior to the patched releases remain vulnerable. See the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory for exact build numbers and download links.
Workarounds
- Restrict network access to the ColdFusion Administrator interface using firewall rules or reverse proxy allow-lists, limiting exposure to trusted management networks only.
- Enforce the principle of least privilege on the ColdFusion service account so it cannot write to or delete files outside its required directories.
- Enable ColdFusion's sandbox security to constrain file operations performed by application code.
- Place ColdFusion behind a web application firewall configured to block requests containing path traversal sequences.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
