CVE-2026-48273: ColdFusion Eval Injection RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-48273 Overview

Adobe ColdFusion contains an eval injection vulnerability that allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code, classified under [CWE-95]. A low-privileged attacker can exploit this issue remotely over the network without user interaction. The vulnerability changes scope, meaning exploitation can impact resources beyond the vulnerable component. Adobe published a security bulletin (APSB26-119) addressing the issue.

Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker with low privileges can execute arbitrary code on affected ColdFusion servers, potentially compromising application data, host systems, and connected infrastructure.

Affected Products

Adobe ColdFusion (versions listed in Adobe security bulletin APSB26-119)

Discovery Timeline

2026-09-08 - CVE-2026-48273 published to NVD
2026-09-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-48273

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in ColdFusion functionality that dynamically evaluates code at runtime. When user-controlled input reaches an evaluation sink without proper neutralization, an attacker can supply crafted directives that the interpreter executes as legitimate code. Because ColdFusion applications frequently expose evaluation-capable endpoints to authenticated users, the barrier to exploitation is low.

Successful exploitation yields code execution in the security context of the ColdFusion process. Given the changed scope (S:C) in the vulnerability metrics, the attacker can pivot beyond the ColdFusion application boundary to affect operating system files, adjacent services, or connected databases.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of directives in dynamically evaluated code [CWE-95], commonly called eval injection. ColdFusion accepts input that flows into a dynamic evaluation function, such as Evaluate() or comparable tag-based constructs, without sufficient sanitization or allow-listing. Attacker-supplied expressions are then parsed and executed by the ColdFusion runtime.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network against an authenticated session with low privileges. The attacker submits a crafted request containing an expression payload targeting a ColdFusion endpoint that invokes dynamic evaluation. No user interaction is required. The Adobe security bulletin describes the affected versions and remediation. See the Adobe ColdFusion Security Bulletin for authoritative technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-48273

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by the ColdFusion service account (cfusion, jrun, or Java processes invoking cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or /bin/sh).
HTTP request bodies or query parameters containing ColdFusion expression syntax such as #Evaluate(...)#, backtick-delimited expressions, or unusual CFML tags submitted to application endpoints.
New or modified .cfm, .cfc, or .jsp files in web-accessible directories that were not deployed by change management.
Outbound network connections from the ColdFusion host to unfamiliar external hosts shortly after inbound POST requests.

Detection Strategies

Enable ColdFusion application and request logging, then hunt for expression-like patterns in POST bodies and query strings.
Monitor process ancestry to flag command-line interpreters launched by Java or ColdFusion service processes.
Correlate authenticated ColdFusion administrator or user sessions with subsequent filesystem writes to webroot directories.

Monitoring Recommendations

Alert on ColdFusion server processes making outbound connections to non-approved destinations.
Track newly written executable or script files in ColdFusion application directories using file integrity monitoring.
Ingest web application firewall logs into a centralized platform to identify repeated expression-injection attempts across the fleet.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-48273

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the Adobe ColdFusion security update referenced in bulletin APSB26-119 to all affected instances.
Restrict network access to ColdFusion administrative and application endpoints using firewall rules or reverse proxy allow-lists.
Rotate credentials for accounts able to authenticate to ColdFusion, since low-privileged access is sufficient for exploitation.
Review recent ColdFusion logs for indicators of expression injection before and after patch deployment.

Patch Information

Adobe released fixes as documented in the Adobe ColdFusion Security Bulletin APSB26-119. Administrators should identify affected versions in the bulletin, download the corresponding update, and follow Adobe's installation instructions in a maintenance window. Verify service functionality and application behavior after patching.

Workarounds

Disable or restrict access to ColdFusion endpoints that invoke dynamic evaluation functions until patches can be applied.
Deploy web application firewall rules that block requests containing CFML expression delimiters (#...#) in unexpected parameters.
Run the ColdFusion service under a least-privilege account to limit the impact of successful code execution.
Enforce network segmentation so that a compromised ColdFusion host cannot directly reach sensitive internal systems.

bash

# Example: restrict inbound access to ColdFusion admin interface
# Only allow the management subnet to reach the ColdFusion admin port
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8500 -s 10.10.20.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8500 -j DROP