CVE-2026-48313: Adobe ColdFusion Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2026-48313 Overview

Adobe ColdFusion contains a path traversal vulnerability affecting versions 2025.9, 2023.20, and earlier releases. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files from the underlying file system and perform limited write operations outside the intended directory scope. Exploitation requires no user interaction and can be triggered over the network. Adobe published the security advisory on June 30, 2026, tracked as APSB26-68. The vulnerability maps to [CWE-22] (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and carries a changed scope, meaning impact extends beyond the vulnerable component.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can read sensitive configuration files, credentials, and application source code from ColdFusion servers, and write limited content outside intended directories.

Affected Products

Adobe ColdFusion 2025 (through Update 9)
Adobe ColdFusion 2023 (through Update 20)
Earlier ColdFusion releases as listed in APSB26-68

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-30 - CVE-2026-48313 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-30 - Adobe published security advisory APSB26-68
2026-06-30 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-48313

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from improper validation of user-supplied path input in Adobe ColdFusion request handlers. ColdFusion fails to canonicalize and constrain pathnames before resolving them against the file system. Attackers submit crafted path sequences containing traversal characters such as ../ to escape the intended directory context. The server processes these paths without adequate sanitization, resolving them relative to sensitive filesystem locations.

Because the vulnerability produces a scope change, exploitation impacts resources beyond the ColdFusion service boundary. Attackers can access files owned by other users or services running on the same host. The flaw yields high confidentiality impact through arbitrary file read, plus limited integrity impact through constrained write primitives. Availability is not directly affected.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient input validation in file access routines that accept pathnames from network requests. ColdFusion does not enforce a strict allowlist of permitted paths or normalize input before resolving file handles. This aligns with the [CWE-22] weakness class, where the software constructs a pathname intended to identify a file within a restricted directory but fails to neutralize traversal sequences.

Attack Vector

An unauthenticated remote attacker sends a specially crafted HTTP request to an exposed ColdFusion endpoint. The request embeds directory traversal sequences in a parameter that reaches a vulnerable file operation. The server resolves the path outside the web root, returning file contents or accepting written data. Targets include configuration files, password stores, application source, and system files readable by the ColdFusion service account. See the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-48313

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests containing encoded traversal sequences such as ..%2f, ..%5c, or %2e%2e/ targeting ColdFusion endpoints
Unexpected reads of neo-security.xml, password.properties, or ColdFusion administrator configuration files
ColdFusion process accessing files outside cfusion/wwwroot or the configured application root
Outbound transfers of large text blobs shortly after anomalous file access events

Detection Strategies

Inspect ColdFusion application.log and web server access logs for URI patterns containing ../ or URL-encoded equivalents
Alert on ColdFusion Java process opening files under /etc, C:\Windows, or paths outside the deployed application directory
Deploy web application firewall rules targeting path traversal payloads directed at .cfm, .cfc, and administrator endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

Baseline normal file access patterns of the ColdFusion service account and alert on deviations
Restrict and monitor access to the ColdFusion Administrator interface at /CFIDE/administrator/
Forward web server and ColdFusion logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation with authentication and network telemetry

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-48313

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the ColdFusion security updates referenced in Adobe advisory APSB26-68 to all affected 2025 and 2023 installations
Remove ColdFusion Administrator and internal endpoints from public internet exposure
Audit ColdFusion service account permissions and reduce filesystem access to the minimum required
Rotate credentials, API keys, and secrets that may have been readable from configuration files on exposed servers

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds addressing CVE-2026-48313 in the June 2026 security update. Refer to the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory for exact patched version numbers and installer downloads. Administrators should apply the patch on all ColdFusion 2025 and 2023 nodes, including staging and disaster recovery environments.

Workarounds

Place ColdFusion behind a reverse proxy or WAF configured to block path traversal payloads until patching is complete
Enforce filesystem-level access controls that deny the ColdFusion process account read access to sensitive OS and application files
Disable unused ColdFusion services, connectors, and administrator components to reduce the reachable attack surface

bash

# Example WAF rule concept to block traversal sequences in ColdFusion requests
# ModSecurity-style illustration - adapt to your WAF syntax
SecRule REQUEST_URI|ARGS "@rx (\.\./|\.\.\\|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e/|\.\.%2f)" \
  "id:1026483130,phase:2,deny,status:403,\
   msg:'CVE-2026-48313 ColdFusion path traversal attempt',\
   tag:'cve/CVE-2026-48313'"