CVE-2026-48277: Adobe ColdFusion RCE Vulnerability
TL;DR - Critical unauthenticated ColdFusion RCE, CVSS 10.0. - Affects ColdFusion 2025 Update 9 and earlier, and 2023 Update 20 and earlier. - Upgrade to 2025 Update 10 or 2023 Update 21 immediately.
Vulnerability at a Glance
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| CVE ID | CVE-2026-48277 |
| CVSS v3.1 | 10.0 Critical |
| Attack vector | Network |
| Auth required | None |
| Patch available | Yes |
CVE-2026-48277 is a critical remote code execution (RCE) issue in Adobe ColdFusion. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation, allowing arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. The published CVSS vector is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating a highly dangerous attack vector that requires no authentication or user interaction.
From an operational perspective, this ColdFusion issue should be treated as a priority patching event, even without confirmed in-the-wild exploitation. The combination of network accessibility, low attack complexity, and lack of required privileges means exposed ColdFusion servers are high-value targets.
What Is This Vulnerability?
CVE-2026-48277 is classified as CWE-20: Improper Input Validation. This means ColdFusion does not adequately validate some attacker-controlled input before processing it. Adobe and NVD describe the outcome as arbitrary code execution, which indicates that successful exploitation can lead to command execution on the host running ColdFusion.
The advisory data does not specify a detailed root cause or vulnerable function name, making it essential for defenders to avoid assuming the bug is limited to a single URL or feature. Any exposed ColdFusion service on the affected branches could be a potential target.
The seriousness of this vulnerability lies not only in its RCE nature but also in its unauthenticated and user interaction-free exploitation potential. Attackers can deliver crafted requests to vulnerable ColdFusion instances without needing stolen credentials or insider access.
Technical Notes
The verified public sources establish the vulnerability class and impact but do not provide a public exploit chain. Defenders should focus on generic RCE hunting and ColdFusion exposure reduction while monitoring Adobe for additional indicators.
CWE: CWE-20 Improper Input Validation
Impact: Arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user
Attack preconditions: Network reachability to a vulnerable Adobe ColdFusion instance
Known public exploit details: Not confirmed in the available sources
Who Is Affected?
The affected products and version ranges currently verified are:
- Adobe ColdFusion 2025 Update 9 and earlier
- Adobe ColdFusion 2023 Update 20 and earlier
Organizations running either the 2023 or 2025 ColdFusion branches should inventory all instances, including exposed production servers, internal application nodes, and disaster recovery environments. ColdFusion often persists in line-of-business applications, so a single query may not uncover every deployment.
If you are unsure whether your organization uses ColdFusion, check web server configurations and vulnerability scanner fingerprints. This is particularly crucial for SMBs and midsize enterprises that may have legacy Adobe ColdFusion applications.
Technical Notes
Use multiple methods to identify ColdFusion systems:
# Linux: search for common ColdFusion install paths
find / -maxdepth 3 \( -iname "*coldfusion*" -o -iname "cfusion" \) 2>/dev/null
# Windows PowerShell: look for Adobe ColdFusion services and install paths
Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.DisplayName -match "ColdFusion"}
Get-ChildItem "C:\ColdFusion*" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Get-ChildItem "C:\Program Files\Adobe" -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object {$_.FullName -match "ColdFusion"}
CVSS Score Breakdown
The base score for CVE-2026-48277 is 10.0 Critical, the maximum possible CVSS v3.1 score. The vector is:
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Each component drives urgency. AV:N means exploitation is possible over the network. AC:L indicates the attacker does not face unusual conditions. PR:N means no authentication is required, and UI:N means no victim action is needed. This combination typically translates to rapid scanning and attempted exploitation once awareness spreads.
Exploitation Status
As of now, there is no confirmed evidence that CVE-2026-48277 is actively exploited in the wild. It is not listed in CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. However, the absence of a public PoC should not be treated as safety; critical unauthenticated RCE flaws in ColdFusion tend to attract fast reverse engineering once patches are released.
Technical Notes
Operational status summary:
Public PoC: Not confirmed from the collected sources
Active exploitation: Not confirmed from the collected primary sources
CISA KEV: Not listed
Risk assumption: High likelihood of attacker interest due to unauthenticated network RCE characteristics
How to Detect It
Detection is constrained by limited public exploit detail. Defenders should focus on identifying suspicious requests to ColdFusion servers, followed by signs of process execution or webshell-like behavior. Review web logs, reverse proxy logs, EDR alerts, and telemetry for unusual spikes in requests.
Technical Notes
Example web log hunting patterns for ColdFusion environments:
# Search Apache/Nginx access logs for common ColdFusion-related paths and suspicious methods
grep -Ei 'POST|PUT' /var/log/nginx/access.log* | grep -Ei 'cfide|cfform|component|cfm|cfc'
# Search for obvious command-execution indicators in web requests
grep -Ei 'cmd=|powershell|curl|wget|bash|cmd.exe|/bin/sh|%3B|%7C|<cf' /var/log/nginx/access.log* /var/log/httpd/access_log*
Mitigation and Patching
The verified remediation is to upgrade to the fixed ColdFusion releases:
- Adobe ColdFusion 2025 Update 10 or later
- Adobe ColdFusion 2023 Update 21 or later
If you are on ColdFusion 2025 Update 9 and earlier or ColdFusion 2023 Update 20 and earlier, consider the system vulnerable until upgraded. Internet-exposed systems should be prioritized for patching.
Technical Notes
Upgrade guidance should follow your standard Adobe ColdFusion maintenance process. Verify the exact steps in Adobe’s bulletin and your deployment runbooks.
References
The primary reference for CVE-2026-48277 is the NVD record, which provides the authoritative CVSS vector, CWE mapping, and affected-version summary. Adobe’s security bulletin APSB26-68 is the vendor advisory tied to this CVE.
- NVD CVE record: NVD CVE
- Adobe Security Bulletin APSB26-68: Adobe Security Bulletin
For more information on related vulnerabilities, check out our articles on what is TTP and supply chain security basics.
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