External risk intelligence

Adobe ColdFusion: Code Execution Vulnerability

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2018-4939

Adobe ColdFusion applications are susceptible to a deserialization vulnerability that can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This presents a business risk of unauthorized code execution and potential system compromise. Organizations should address this vulnerability by updating affected soft

4Halo Surface Signal

Deserialization

Adobe Coldfusion

11.02016

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2018-4939

Adobe ColdFusion is a web application server platform commonly deployed to host public-facing web applications, APIs, and business services. Given its function as a primary server-side technology, it is frequently exposed to the internet to facilitate client access to the web services it supports.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

Adobe ColdFusion applications are susceptible to a deserialization vulnerability. This flaw can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The potential impact includes unauthorized code execution, leading to compromised data and systems.

  • Vulnerable: Adobe ColdFusion
  • Flaw: Untrusted data deserialization
  • Impact: Arbitrary code execution

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

Adobe ColdFusion versions prior to certain updates contain a deserialization vulnerability. This flaw allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. Successful exploitation could result in a compromise of the server, leading to potential data breaches or further system takeovers.

  • Exposure condition: Network accessible server.
  • Attacker starting point: No authentication required.
  • Trigger and result: Deserialization of untrusted data leads to code execution.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

The identified vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This is due to a deserialization flaw within the software. Successful exploitation could lead to significant disruption and compromise of sensitive information. Organizations should prioritize addressing this vulnerability to mitigate potential business risks.

  • Likely attacker skill level: High
  • Required access or conditions: Network access, no authentication needed
  • Business risk or urgency: High

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

An organization should address a deserialization vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion that allows for arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability presents a significant risk due to its potential for exploitation via the network without requiring user interaction or special privileges. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized control over affected systems.

  • Identify all ColdFusion assets.
  • Limit network access to ColdFusion.
  • Update ColdFusion and verify.

Frequently asked questions

What is Adobe ColdFusion?

Adobe ColdFusion is a platform for rapidly developing dynamic websites and web applications. It uses a tag-based scripting language called ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML), which is similar to HTML, making it easier for developers to build features like database connectivity, content management, and e-commerce functionalities. It's built on Java and can integrate with various databases and other systems.

What is CVE-2018-4939 related to?

CVE-2018-4939 is a "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" vulnerability. This means that the software improperly handles data that is being converted from a serialized format back into a usable object. Attackers can exploit this by sending specially crafted data that, when deserialized, allows them to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.

What are the preconditions for exploiting CVE-2018-4939?

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability does not require any authentication or special privileges. An attacker only needs to be able to reach the affected ColdFusion server over a network to send the malicious data that triggers the deserialization flaw.

Who needs to be concerned about CVE-2018-4939?

Organizations using Adobe ColdFusion versions prior to specific updates should be concerned. Because ColdFusion is often used to host public-facing web applications and services, it's frequently exposed to the internet, increasing the potential attack surface for this vulnerability.

What is the first step to address this CVE?

The immediate first step is to identify all instances of Adobe ColdFusion within your environment. After identification, you should apply the available security updates or patches provided by Adobe to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

References