CVE-2026-47932: ColdFusion Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-47932 Overview

Adobe ColdFusion contains a path traversal vulnerability affecting versions 2023.19, 2025.8, and earlier. The flaw stems from improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory [CWE-22]. Attackers can leverage this issue to bypass security controls and access unauthorized files or directories outside the intended restrictions. Exploitation requires user interaction, where a victim must open a malicious file delivered by the attacker. The vulnerability has a changed scope, meaning successful exploitation impacts resources beyond the vulnerable component itself. Adobe published a security advisory addressing this issue in ColdFusion update bulletin APSB26-64.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation enables a security feature bypass with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability across affected ColdFusion deployments.

Affected Products

Adobe ColdFusion 2023 (versions 2023.19 and earlier)
Adobe ColdFusion 2025 (versions 2025.8 and earlier)
Adobe ColdFusion deployments accessible from adjacent network segments

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-09 - CVE-2026-47932 published to NVD
2026-06-10 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-47932

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a classic path traversal flaw [CWE-22] in Adobe ColdFusion's file handling logic. ColdFusion does not adequately sanitize file path input, allowing crafted pathnames to escape the intended restricted directory. An attacker who convinces a user to open a malicious file can read or interact with files outside the bounds enforced by ColdFusion's security model. The changed scope indicates that exploitation affects components beyond the immediate ColdFusion process, expanding the attacker's reach into the underlying host environment. The result is a security feature bypass that compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of impacted data.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient validation of path components in user-controlled file references. ColdFusion accepts pathname input that includes directory traversal sequences such as ../ without canonicalizing or restricting them to an approved directory tree. When the application resolves these paths, the underlying operating system follows the traversal sequences to files outside the intended scope. This breaks the assumption that ColdFusion's restricted directory boundary will contain file operations triggered by untrusted input.

Attack Vector

The attack requires adjacent network access and user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious file containing manipulated path references and delivers it to a victim through phishing, file sharing, or another social engineering vector. When the victim opens the file within an affected ColdFusion environment, the embedded traversal payload triggers unauthorized file access. Because the scope is changed, the attacker can reach resources outside ColdFusion's security boundary, including configuration files, credentials, and application data that should remain inaccessible.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available at the time of writing. For technical specifics, refer to the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory APSB26-64.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-47932

Indicators of Compromise

File access events in ColdFusion logs referencing paths containing ../, ..\, or URL-encoded traversal sequences such as %2e%2e%2f.
Unexpected reads of sensitive files including neo-security.xml, password.properties, or application configuration files.
ColdFusion process activity opening files outside the configured webroot or restricted directories.
Inbound delivery of suspicious files to users with access to ColdFusion administrative or developer workflows.

Detection Strategies

Inspect ColdFusion server logs for file operations that resolve paths outside the application's intended directory tree.
Correlate user file-open events with subsequent ColdFusion file system access to identify exploitation chains.
Deploy file integrity monitoring on ColdFusion configuration directories and credential stores to detect unauthorized reads.
Hunt for anomalous outbound transfers of files originating from ColdFusion server processes.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging for ColdFusion file I/O operations and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform.
Alert on process behaviors where the ColdFusion service accesses files outside its expected working directories.
Track user interaction telemetry for opening of untrusted files on systems with ColdFusion connectivity.
Monitor adjacent network traffic to ColdFusion hosts for delivery of payloads that may trigger this flaw.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-47932

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the Adobe security update referenced in APSB26-64 to all ColdFusion 2023 and 2025 installations.
Inventory ColdFusion deployments and confirm the running version is later than 2023.19 and 2025.8.
Restrict adjacent network access to ColdFusion servers using network segmentation and firewall policies.
Educate users with ColdFusion access on the risk of opening untrusted files received through email or shared storage.

Patch Information

Adobe addressed CVE-2026-47932 in the security update published as bulletin APSB26-64. Administrators should upgrade ColdFusion to a version newer than 2023.19 for the 2023 branch and newer than 2025.8 for the 2025 branch. Refer to the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory for exact patched build numbers and installation instructions.

Workarounds

Enforce ColdFusion sandbox security to limit which directories the server can access at runtime.
Disable or restrict ColdFusion features that process user-supplied file paths until patching is complete.
Apply strict access control lists on configuration and credential files referenced by ColdFusion.
Use endpoint controls to block delivery and execution of suspicious files targeting ColdFusion users.

bash

# Configuration example: restrict ColdFusion sandbox file access
# In the ColdFusion Administrator, enable sandbox security and configure
# the allowed directories explicitly. Example cfusion settings:

# 1. Enable sandbox security
#    Server Settings -> Security -> Sandbox Security -> Enable

# 2. Limit accessible paths to the application root only
#    Add allowed path: /opt/coldfusion/cfusion/wwwroot
#    Deny all other filesystem paths

# 3. Restrict network exposure with host firewall (example: iptables)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8500 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8500 -j DROP