CVE-2026-48325 Overview
Adobe ColdFusion contains a Missing Authentication for Critical Function vulnerability [CWE-306] that allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. The flaw affects ColdFusion 2023 (base through Update 21) and ColdFusion 2025 (base through Update 10). Exploitation requires no user interaction and can be triggered from an adjacent network position. The scope is changed, meaning a successful attack can impact resources beyond the vulnerable component. Adobe published advisory APSB26-82 documenting the issue.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers on an adjacent network can execute arbitrary code on ColdFusion servers, compromising application data and potentially pivoting to other systems reachable from the host.
Affected Products
- Adobe ColdFusion 2023 (base release through Update 21)
- Adobe ColdFusion 2025 (base release through Update 10)
- All ColdFusion deployments exposing management or service interfaces to adjacent network segments
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-07-14 - CVE-2026-48325 published to NVD
- 2026-07-15 - Last updated in NVD database
- Adobe Security Bulletin - Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory APSB26-82
Technical Details for CVE-2026-48325
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from a critical ColdFusion function that fails to enforce authentication before executing sensitive operations. An attacker with adjacent network access can invoke this function without credentials and cause the ColdFusion process to execute arbitrary code. Because the scope is changed, code executed through this flaw can affect resources outside the ColdFusion security context, including files, databases, and other services accessible to the process account. The absence of user interaction requirements makes the flaw suitable for automated exploitation across an internal network segment. Successful exploitation typically results in full application compromise and lateral movement opportunities within the environment hosting ColdFusion.
Root Cause
The root cause is classified under [CWE-306] Missing Authentication for Critical Function. A ColdFusion endpoint or handler that performs privileged operations does not verify that the requester is authenticated. Adobe has not published detailed root cause analysis beyond the advisory summary in APSB26-82.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is Adjacent Network, meaning the attacker must reach the ColdFusion instance from the same broadcast domain, VPN segment, or logically adjacent network. Attack complexity is low and no privileges are required. An attacker sends a crafted request to the unauthenticated function to trigger code execution in the ColdFusion process context.
No public proof-of-concept code is available for CVE-2026-48325. Refer to the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory for vendor guidance.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-48325
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by coldfusion.exe, jrun.exe, or the Java process hosting ColdFusion, particularly command shells such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or /bin/sh.
- New or modified .cfm, .cfc, or .jsp files in web-accessible directories such as CFIDE/, wwwroot/, or custom application roots.
- Outbound network connections from the ColdFusion server to unfamiliar hosts, especially on non-standard ports.
- Anomalous authentication events or account creation on the ColdFusion host following inbound requests from adjacent subnets.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect ColdFusion administrator and application logs for requests to management endpoints originating from non-administrative subnets.
- Correlate web server access logs with process creation events to identify request-to-process chains that indicate code execution.
- Alert on writes to ColdFusion web roots by the ColdFusion service account outside of scheduled deployments.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on ColdFusion Administrator and API endpoints and forward logs to a centralized SIEM.
- Monitor east-west traffic to ColdFusion hosts on ports 8500, 8600, 80, and 443 from unexpected internal sources.
- Track file integrity on ColdFusion installation directories including cfusion/wwwroot/CFIDE/administrator/ and application deployment paths.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-48325
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the ColdFusion security updates referenced in Adobe advisory APSB26-82 to all ColdFusion 2023 and 2025 instances.
- Restrict network access to ColdFusion servers so that only authorized management subnets can reach administrative and service ports.
- Audit ColdFusion hosts for indicators of compromise, particularly recent modifications to files under web-accessible directories.
- Review the service account privileges used by ColdFusion and reduce them to the minimum required.
Patch Information
Adobe has released fixed builds for ColdFusion 2023 and ColdFusion 2025. Consult the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory APSB26-82 for the exact update numbers, download locations, and installation instructions. Apply the vendor patch as the primary remediation.
Workarounds
- Place ColdFusion instances behind a web application firewall that blocks requests to management endpoints from untrusted network segments.
- Enforce network segmentation and host-based firewall rules to limit adjacent network exposure of ColdFusion services.
- Disable or remove unused ColdFusion components and sample applications to reduce the attack surface until patches are applied.
# Configuration example - restrict access to ColdFusion admin endpoints via host firewall (Linux iptables)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8500 -s 10.10.20.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8500 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8600 -s 10.10.20.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8600 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
