CVE-2025-43565

8.4 HIGH

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes an incorrect authorization vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion that allows high-privileged attackers to bypass security controls and execute arbitrary code. Affected versions include ColdFusion 2025.1, 2023.13, 2021.19 and earlier. Exploitation requires user interaction and can lead to complete system compromise.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:
  • Adobe ColdFusion
Versions: 2025.1, 2023.13, 2021.19 and earlier versions
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 persistent backdoor installation.

🟠

Likely Case

Privilege escalation leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data and configuration manipulation.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact due to proper network segmentation, least privilege access controls, and intrusion detection systems.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH
🏢 Internal Only: HIGH

🎯 Exploit Status

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

Exploitation requires high-privileged attacker access and user interaction. No public exploit code is currently available.

🛠️ 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. 3. Apply the update following Adobe's installation guide. 4. Restart ColdFusion services. 5. Verify the update was successful.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Network Segmentation

all

Isolate ColdFusion servers from critical systems and restrict network access

Privilege Reduction

all

Run ColdFusion services with minimal necessary privileges

🧯 If You Can't Patch

  • Implement strict network access controls and firewall rules to limit exposure
  • Enable detailed logging and monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check ColdFusion version in Administrator console or via cfusion/lib/version.txt file

Check Version:

On Windows: type "C:\ColdFusion\cfusion\lib\version.txt" || On Linux: cat /opt/coldfusion/cfusion/lib/version.txt

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify version number matches patched versions (2025.2, 2023.14, 2021.20 or later)

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

  • Unusual authentication patterns
  • Unexpected privilege escalation attempts
  • Suspicious code execution events

Network Indicators:

  • Anomalous outbound connections from ColdFusion servers
  • Unexpected administrative access patterns

SIEM Query:

source="coldfusion" AND (event_type="authentication" OR event_type="authorization") AND result="failure"

🔗 References

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