CVE-2025-43559

9.1 CRITICAL

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes an improper input validation vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion that allows authenticated high-privileged attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability affects ColdFusion 2025.1, 2023.13, 2021.19 and earlier versions. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise in the context of the current user.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:
  • Adobe ColdFusion
Versions: 2025.1, 2023.13, 2021.19 and earlier
Operating Systems: Windows, Linux, macOS
Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes
Notes: All ColdFusion installations running affected versions are vulnerable regardless of configuration.

📦 What is this software?

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

Coldfusion by Adobe

Adobe ColdFusion is a commercial rapid web application development platform and server providing a Java-based runtime environment for building dynamic websites, web applications, REST APIs, and enterprise integrations. Deployed across government agencies, financial services, healthcare organizations...

Learn more about Coldfusion →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete system takeover with administrative privileges, data exfiltration, ransomware deployment, and lateral movement across the network.

🟠

Likely Case

Privilege escalation leading to code execution, installation of backdoors, and persistence mechanisms on affected ColdFusion servers.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact due to network segmentation, strict access controls, and proper privilege separation preventing attacker access to vulnerable components.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH
🏢 Internal Only: HIGH

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No
Weaponized: UNKNOWN
Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No
Complexity: LOW

Exploitation requires high-privileged attacker access but no user interaction. The vulnerability is in the core ColdFusion framework.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: ColdFusion 2025.2, 2023.14, 2021.20

Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/coldfusion/apsb25-52.html

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Download the appropriate update from Adobe's website. 2. Backup your ColdFusion installation and configuration. 3. Apply the update following Adobe's installation guide. 4. Restart the ColdFusion service. 5. Verify the update was successful.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Network Access Restriction

all

Restrict network access to ColdFusion administration interfaces to trusted IP addresses only.

Configure firewall rules to limit access to ColdFusion ports (typically 8500, 8989)

Privilege Reduction

all

Run ColdFusion service with minimal necessary privileges and implement strict access controls.

Review and minimize user accounts with ColdFusion administrative access

🧯 If You Can't Patch

  • Implement strict network segmentation to isolate ColdFusion servers from critical assets
  • Deploy application-level firewalls (WAF) with specific rules for ColdFusion traffic

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check ColdFusion version via ColdFusion Administrator interface or cfadmin directory

Check Version:

On Windows: sc query "ColdFusion Application Server" | findstr DisplayName
On Linux: ps aux | grep coldfusion

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify ColdFusion version is 2025.2, 2023.14, or 2021.20 or later

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

  • Unusual authentication attempts to ColdFusion admin
  • Suspicious file creation/modification in ColdFusion directories
  • Unexpected process execution from ColdFusion service account

Network Indicators:

  • Unusual outbound connections from ColdFusion server
  • Traffic to ColdFusion admin ports from unauthorized sources

SIEM Query:

source="coldfusion.log" AND (event="admin_login" OR event="file_upload" OR event="code_execution")

🔗 References

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