CVE-2026-48314: ColdFusion Path Traversal Vulnerability (CVSS 6.5)

Technical summary

CVE-2026-48314 is a CWE-22 path traversal flaw in ColdFusion's pathname validation logic. The vulnerability stems from improper limitation of file path inputs, allowing directory traversal sequences (such as ../ patterns) to escape sandbox restrictions. An unauthenticated network attacker can craft requests that bypass security controls and access or modify files and directories outside the application's intended restricted scope. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N) reflects network accessibility, low attack complexity, no privilege requirement, no user interaction, and limited impact on confidentiality and integrity without system availability compromise.

Business impact

This vulnerability poses a direct confidentiality and integrity risk to organizations running affected ColdFusion instances. An attacker could exfiltrate sensitive configuration files, application source code, or database credentials stored on the server filesystem. Additionally, the write capability enables code injection or configuration tampering, potentially leading to application compromise or lateral movement within the network. For organizations using ColdFusion to host customer-facing applications or internal services, this flaw could enable data breaches or service disruption without requiring credential theft or social engineering.

Affected systems

Adobe ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are vulnerable. Organizations should audit their ColdFusion deployments to identify running versions. Both current and legacy versions in this range require remediation. The broad version impact suggests the vulnerability exists in a core component affecting multiple release lines.

Exploitability

The vulnerability is remotely exploitable with no authentication or user interaction required. An attacker needs only network access to the ColdFusion application and knowledge of vulnerable path handling logic—no advanced exploitation techniques, zero-days, or specialized tools are necessary. The low attack complexity means reliable, repeatable exploitation is feasible. However, the vulnerability is not yet listed on CISA's KEV catalog, indicating it has not been actively weaponized in the wild as of the publication date.

Remediation

Apply vendor security patches immediately. Verify the specific patched versions against Adobe's security advisory for your ColdFusion release line (2025.x or 2023.x). Until patches are deployed, implement network segmentation to restrict access to ColdFusion services, enforce authentication on sensitive endpoints, and monitor file access logs for suspicious path traversal patterns. Organizations unable to patch urgently should consider disabling public-facing ColdFusion applications or placing them behind a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with path traversal detection rules.

Patch guidance

Contact Adobe Security Bulletins or your support channel to identify the specific patched version for your ColdFusion release. Patches for version 2025.9 and 2023.20 should be available; verify against the official advisory before deployment. Test patches in a staging environment first, as ColdFusion updates can affect custom applications and integrations. Plan updates during maintenance windows to minimize service disruption. After patching, validate that file access controls function correctly and that application functionality remains intact.

Detection guidance

Monitor web server and application logs for requests containing path traversal sequences (../, ..\ or URL-encoded variants %2e%2e%2f). Implement file integrity monitoring on sensitive directories to detect unauthorized read or write operations. Review ColdFusion access logs for unexpected file operations outside standard application directories. Consider deploying a WAF rule set targeting CWE-22 path traversal patterns. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools should flag unusual file access by the ColdFusion process user account.

Why prioritize this

Although categorized as medium severity, this vulnerability merits prompt prioritization because it enables direct file system access without authentication. The combination of confidentiality and integrity impact, remote exploitability, and absence of user interaction creates meaningful risk even at CVSS 6.5. Organizations with internet-exposed ColdFusion instances should treat this as high priority; internal or air-gapped deployments can follow standard patching schedules.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.5 (medium) reflects a remotely exploitable vulnerability with limited file access scope. Network accessibility (AV:N) and low attack complexity (AC:L) drive the score upward, while the partial impact on confidentiality (C:L) and integrity (I:L)—without affecting availability—keep it in the medium range. The score does not account for business context; organizations storing highly sensitive data should consider their own risk multiplier.

Frequently asked questions