CVE-2026-48314: Adobe ColdFusion Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2026-48314 Overview

CVE-2026-48314 is a path traversal vulnerability affecting Adobe ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20, and earlier. The flaw stems from improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory [CWE-22]. An attacker can leverage the weakness to gain limited read and write access to files or directories outside the intended restrictions. Exploitation occurs over the network, requires no authentication, and does not involve user interaction. Adobe classifies the issue as a security feature bypass and has published patches through advisory APSB26-68.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can read and write files outside ColdFusion's restricted directories, potentially exposing configuration data or enabling further compromise.

Affected Products

Adobe ColdFusion 2025 (through Update 9)
Adobe ColdFusion 2023 (through Update 20)
Earlier ColdFusion releases sharing the vulnerable path handling logic

Discovery Timeline

2026-06-30 - CVE-2026-48314 published to NVD
2026-06-30 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-48314

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in ColdFusion's file path handling logic, which fails to properly restrict pathnames supplied through network-facing interfaces. Attackers can supply crafted path sequences containing traversal characters such as ../ or encoded equivalents to reach locations outside the intended directory. The flaw provides limited read and write access to unauthorized files, allowing exposure of sensitive configuration data and potential modification of application resources. Because the attack vector is network-based and requires no privileges or user interaction, exposed ColdFusion administration and application endpoints face direct risk. ColdFusion instances that are internet-accessible, or that expose administrative components to broader network zones, present the highest exposure. The EPSS probability is 0.333% at the 25th percentile.

Root Cause

The root cause is [CWE-22] Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. ColdFusion accepts file path input without canonicalizing and validating the resolved path against an allowlist of permitted directories. This omission enables traversal outside the intended sandbox.

Attack Vector

An unauthenticated remote attacker sends a crafted HTTP request containing directory traversal sequences to a vulnerable ColdFusion endpoint. The server processes the manipulated path and returns or writes content from arbitrary filesystem locations accessible to the ColdFusion service account. No credentials, tokens, or user interaction are required. Refer to the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory APSB26-68 for vendor-provided technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-48314

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests containing traversal sequences such as ../, ..\, %2e%2e%2f, or double-encoded variants targeting ColdFusion endpoints
Unexpected access to files outside the ColdFusion webroot, such as WEB-INF, lib, or OS-level configuration paths
ColdFusion process reads or writes to filesystem locations inconsistent with normal application behavior
Anomalous 200 responses to requests with encoded path characters against .cfm, .cfc, or admin endpoints

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server and ColdFusion access logs for URI patterns containing traversal tokens or encoded equivalents
Deploy WAF rules that decode multi-layer URL encoding before enforcing traversal signatures
Correlate ColdFusion process filesystem telemetry with expected application read/write paths to surface deviations
Baseline outbound file access patterns from the ColdFusion service account and alert on new locations

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose HTTP request logging for all ColdFusion endpoints, including administrator and API paths
Monitor file integrity on ColdFusion configuration directories, including cfusion/lib, cfusion/wwwroot/WEB-INF, and datasource configuration files
Alert when the ColdFusion service account accesses files outside its documented working set
Forward web and application logs to a centralized analytics platform for cross-source correlation

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-48314

Immediate Actions Required

Apply Adobe's security updates from advisory APSB26-68 to ColdFusion 2025 and 2023 installations
Restrict network access to ColdFusion administrator and API endpoints to trusted management networks only
Review web and access logs for traversal patterns dating back to before the patch was applied
Verify the integrity of ColdFusion configuration files and application resources after patching

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds addressing CVE-2026-48314 in security advisory APSB26-68. Administrators should upgrade ColdFusion 2025 to the release beyond Update 9 and ColdFusion 2023 to the release beyond Update 20, following Adobe's documented upgrade procedures. Confirm the applied build number matches the vendor-listed remediated version after installation.

Workarounds

Deploy a web application firewall with traversal detection rules that decode nested URL encoding
Enforce ColdFusion sandbox security to constrain file access for individual applications
Run the ColdFusion service under a least-privileged account with filesystem ACLs limiting reachable directories
Place ColdFusion behind a reverse proxy that normalizes and validates request paths before forwarding

bash

# Example ModSecurity rule to block common path traversal encodings
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@rx (?:\.\./|\.\.\\|%2e%2e%2f|%2e%2e/|\.\.%2f|%2e%2e%5c)" \
    "id:1004831,phase:1,deny,status:403,log,\
     msg:'CVE-2026-48314 ColdFusion path traversal attempt'"