CVE-2026-75995 Overview
CVE-2026-75995 is an improper input validation vulnerability [CWE-20] in Adobe ColdFusion. An attacker with high privileges on an adjacent network can execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. The vulnerable component is restricted to an administrative network zone by default, which limits exposure to attackers who have already reached that zone. Exploitation requires no user interaction and results in a scope change, meaning the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component itself.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation yields arbitrary code execution with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact across security scopes on affected ColdFusion servers.
Affected Products
- Adobe ColdFusion (see vendor advisory APSB26-144 for specific versions)
- ColdFusion administrative components exposed to adjacent networks
- Deployments where high-privileged accounts can reach the administrative zone
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-10-13 - CVE-2026-75995 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-10-14 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-75995
Vulnerability Analysis
The flaw is classified as Improper Input Validation [CWE-20] within Adobe ColdFusion. ColdFusion fails to adequately validate input supplied to an administrative component, allowing a high-privileged attacker to inject data that is subsequently processed as executable code. Because the scope changes during exploitation, the attacker can affect resources beyond the ColdFusion process boundary, including the underlying operating system context in which the service runs.
Adobe published the fix in security bulletin APSB26-144. The attack surface is the ColdFusion administrative interface, which Adobe restricts to an administrative network zone by default. Organizations that have broadened this exposure, or that permit lateral access from compromised endpoints, face increased risk.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient validation of untrusted input before it is passed to code-execution pathways within an administrative function. ColdFusion accepts attacker-controlled data without enforcing type, length, or syntactic constraints, which permits injection of payloads that the runtime interprets as commands.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is Adjacent Network, meaning the attacker must have access to the same logical network segment as the ColdFusion administrative interface. The attacker must also possess high privileges, such as valid administrative credentials, to reach the vulnerable component. No user interaction is required to trigger the vulnerability.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available. Technical specifics are documented in the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory APSB26-144.
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Stop Exploit AttemptsDetection Methods for CVE-2026-75995
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by the ColdFusion service account (for example cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or /bin/sh)
- Anomalous administrative authentication events from workstations that do not normally access the ColdFusion admin zone
- New or modified .cfm or .cfc files in webroots outside normal deployment windows
- Outbound network connections from the ColdFusion host to unknown external hosts following administrative activity
Detection Strategies
- Monitor ColdFusion administrator audit logs for configuration changes, scheduled task creation, and data source modifications
- Alert on process-lineage anomalies where the ColdFusion JVM spawns shell or scripting interpreters
- Correlate adjacent-network administrative logins with subsequent code-execution behavior on the server
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest ColdFusion application and administrator logs into a centralized SIEM for retention and correlation
- Baseline normal administrator access patterns and alert on deviations in source network, time of day, or account used
- Track file-integrity events on ColdFusion webroots, WEB-INF, and the cfusion/lib directories
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-75995
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the Adobe ColdFusion security update referenced in APSB26-144 as soon as change windows allow
- Verify that the ColdFusion administrator interface is reachable only from a restricted administrative network segment
- Rotate credentials for all ColdFusion administrator accounts and audit recent administrative activity
Patch Information
Adobe released patched ColdFusion builds in bulletin APSB26-144. Review the Adobe ColdFusion Security Advisory for the specific versions and update packages that address CVE-2026-75995, and schedule deployment according to vendor instructions.
Workarounds
- Enforce network-layer restrictions so that only designated administrative hosts can reach the ColdFusion admin interface
- Require multi-factor authentication and strong password policy for all ColdFusion administrator accounts
- Run the ColdFusion service under a least-privilege account to limit the impact of code execution
# Example: restrict access to the ColdFusion administrator with iptables
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8500 -s 10.10.50.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8500 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
