External risk intelligence

ColdFusion OS Command Injection Vulnerability

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 10.0)

CVE-2026-48362

ColdFusion is a web application server platform commonly deployed as a public-facing web or API endpoint to host internet-accessible applications, making its management and service interfaces frequently reachable from the public internet by design.

OS Command Injection

Adobe Coldfusion

20232025

Halo Surface Signal: 5 out of 5 — more likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

This advisory highlights a critical vulnerability in ColdFusion that could allow attackers to run unauthorized code on affected systems, potentially leading to a significant compromise. The issue is related to how the software handles commands, and its external exposure increases the risk of exploitation.

Attackers can execute unauthorized code.
Web applications are exposed to potential compromise.
Confirm if ColdFusion is in use and assess exposure.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted request to a ColdFusion server that is accessible over the network. Because the vulnerability does not require user interaction and the scope of impact changes, an attacker could achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the affected user, potentially leading to full system compromise.

No authentication required.
Special input to the server.
Arbitrary code execution.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected server with the privileges of the running ColdFusion process, potentially leading to a complete compromise of the server. This could occur when the vulnerable component processes specially crafted requests over the network.

Server code execution.
Network requests exploited.
System compromise may occur.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

Given that ColdFusion is a web application server platform, the first practical step is for the platform or infrastructure team to identify all instances of ColdFusion across the environment. Security and application teams should then collaborate to determine if these instances are internet-facing, accessible by unauthenticated users, or host business-critical applications, thereby confirming the exposure and prioritizing remediation efforts. This collaborative approach ensures that ownership is clear and that actions are taken based on the actual risk to the organization.

Platform/Infrastructure owns the issue.
Verify external reachability and business criticality.
Plan remediation based on validated risk.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

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Frequently asked questions

What is ColdFusion and how is it used?

ColdFusion is a commercial web application server platform designed for building and deploying dynamic websites and enterprise-level applications. It acts as a middleware engine that processes scripts and interacts with databases, allowing developers to create content-rich applications that are often exposed to the web to serve users directly.

What does OS Command Injection mean for CVE-2026-48362?

This vulnerability, classified as CWE-78, occurs when the software fails to properly filter special characters in user-supplied input before passing them to the system shell. In the context of this CVE, it means an attacker can manipulate these inputs to force the server to execute unintended operating system commands with the privileges of the ColdFusion service.

How can an attacker trigger this vulnerability?

An attacker triggers the bug by sending a specifically crafted network request to the ColdFusion server. This process does not require any authentication or interaction from a user. It is important to note that simply visiting a legitimate page or accessing the server in standard ways does not trigger the vulnerability; the request must contain malicious input designed to exploit the command injection flaw.

Why is this CVE a concern for my network?

According to Halo Surface Signal, ColdFusion is often deployed as a public-facing endpoint, which frequently makes its management interfaces reachable from the internet by design. Because this vulnerability allows for unauthenticated remote code execution, any ColdFusion instance accessible from the public internet faces a significantly higher risk of being targeted.

Do I need to take action if I use ColdFusion?

Yes. Your first step is to perform an inventory to locate all ColdFusion instances within your environment. Once identified, work with your infrastructure and security teams to determine which servers are reachable from the internet or handle sensitive data. This helps you prioritize remediation efforts by focusing on the most critical and exposed assets first.

References

helpx.adobe.com/security/products/coldfusion/apsb26-90.html

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.