Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessReach XML-processing endpoint over network
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DeliverySubmit crafted XML with external entity
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ExploitParser resolves external file entity
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ExecutionRead files outside intended scope
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ImpactExfiltrate sensitive file contents
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A02:2025 - Security Misconfiguration
ASVS 5.0
V13 - Configuration XML external entity prevention
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Initial Access, Collection The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires network access to a ColdFusion instance (2023 ≤2023.0.25 or 2025 ≤2025.0.13) that accepts and parses attacker-supplied XML with external-entity resolution enabled in the parser. Per the CVSS vector (PR:N/UI:N/AC:L), no authentication, no user interaction, and no special privileges are needed, so default-reachable XML-handling functionality is sufficient. Limiting factors: the attacker must be able to reach an XML-processing endpoint, and the host must be running an unpatched vulnerable version; impact is confined to file-system read (confidentiality), with no integrity or availability effect, so exploitation discloses data but does not directly alter or disrupt the system. |
| Impact | This is a credible high-priority vulnerability. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N, 8.6) describes a remote, unauthenticated, low-complexity attack with no user interaction and a changed scope, which is consistent with an XXE (CWE-611) flaw where the XML parser reaches resources beyond the application boundary. Adobe PSIRT is the reporting source, so the vulnerability itself is vendor-confirmed, and ColdFusion has a long history of being targeted in the wild, which raises concern. However, several exploitation-signal fields are MISSING from the input: there is no EPSS probability, no CISA KEV listing, and no POC indicator provided, so exploitation status is 'no public exploit identified at time of analysis.' The absence of these signals should not be read as low risk - it reflects data gaps rather than confirmed safety. The impact is confidentiality-only (C:H, I:N, A:N): successful exploitation yields arbitrary file read, not code execution or service disruption, so the practical worst case is disclosure of configuration files, credentials, and secrets that may enable follow-on attacks. Net: treat as a real patch priority given remote unauthenticated access and ColdFusion's attractiveness to attackers, while noting that real-world exploitation volume cannot be quantified from the data provided. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote, unauthenticated attacker submits a crafted XML document to a ColdFusion endpoint that parses XML with external entity resolution enabled, embedding an external entity that references a local file path. Because the attack is network-based, low-complexity, and requires no authentication or user interaction, the server resolves the entity and returns the contents of sensitive files (e.g., configuration or credential files) to the attacker. No public exploit is identified at time of analysis, but XXE primitives of this kind are well understood and straightforward to weaponize. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026
Arbitrary file system read in Adobe ColdFusion (2023 releases up to and including 2023.0.25 and 2025 releases up to and including 2025.0.13) is achievable through an XML External Entity (XXE) flaw that lets a remote attacker cause the server to resolve attacker-controlled external entities during XML processing. The CVSS vector is AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C (8.6), meaning the attack is unauthenticated, requires no user interaction, and crosses a security boundary so that disclosed data lies outside the vulnerable component's own scope; impact is confidentiality-only (high) with no integrity or availability effect. No public exploit code and no CISA KEV entry were identified at time of analysis, so risk derives from how many unpatched, network-reachable XML-processing endpoints exist rather than from confirmed active exploitation.
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patch: apply the updated ColdFusion 2023 and ColdFusion 2025 builds published with Adobe Security Bulletin APSB26-144 (https://www.adobe.com/trust/security/products/coldfusion/apsb26-144.html) - install the release newer than 2023.0.25 on the 2023 track and newer than 2025.0.13 on the 2025 track, then restart the service. Where patching must wait, compensating controls are: (1) disable external entity and external DTD/schema resolution in the JVM/parser layer (set the XMLConstants.ACCESS_EXTERNAL_DTD and ACCESS_EXTERNAL_SCHEMA properties to an empty string, or the equivalent javax.xml and DocumentBuilderFactory settings) and, where ColdFusion settings permit, toggle the verify-client/secure XML parsing options - the trade-off is that legitimate XML features relying on DTDs or external schemas may stop working and must be retested; (2) restrict network reachability to ColdFusion XML-processing endpoints (web service connectors, XML-consuming handlers, administrator-facing ports) using firewall, reverse-proxy or WAF rules limited to trusted clients, with the trade-off that legitimate API consumers outside the allow-list lose access; (3) run ColdFusion under a least-privileged OS account and tighten file ACLs so the service identity cannot read configuration, credential, or system files, accepting that some file-access features may require explicit grants; and (4) monitor ColdFusion and web server logs for DOCTYPE/external entity payloads and unexpected outbound DNS or HTTP from the ColdFusion host, since successful XXE often manifests as out-of-band exfiltration attempts. No vendor-supplied workaround beyond the bulletin was provided in the source data, and no public exploit code was identified at time of analysis.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 2 packages in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The root cause is CWE-611, Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference. ColdFusion parses XML in many places - CFML XML functions, SOAP/REST web services, WDDX and XML-based integrations - and when the underlying Java XML parser is configured to resolve external entities, an attacker-supplied document can declare a DOCTYPE that references local files (for example a file:// URI) or an attacker-hosted external DTD. The parser then either inlines the file contents into the response, leaks them through error messages, or exfiltrates them out-of-band over HTTP/DNS, yielding read access to files and directories outside the intended scope. The S:C component of the CVSS vector reflects that this read crosses the parser's/application's security authority into the host file system. Version data from ENISA EUVD-2026-100673 pins the exposure to ColdFusion 2023 builds 2023.0 through 2023.0.25 and ColdFusion 2025 builds 2025.0 through 2025.0.13; Adobe is the reporting PSIRT and its security bulletin APSB26-144 is the authoritative vendor source.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
Remote unauthenticated XXE needing no user interaction gives AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N; parser reading files beyond the app boundary justifies S:C with C:H and I:N/A:N.
Primary rating from Vendor (adobe).
CVSS VectorVendor: adobe
DescriptionCVE.org
ColdFusion is affected by an Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference ('XXE') vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary file system read. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive files and directories outside the intended access scope. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction. Scope is changed.
Executive ViewAI
Adobe ColdFusion versions 2023 (up to 2023.0.25) and 2025 (up to 2025.0.13) contain an unauthenticated XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability that allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files on the server. This could expose sensitive configuration files, credentials, or customer data, leading to regulatory and reputational damage. As no vendor patch is currently available, organizations must rely on interim mitigations to reduce risk.
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations include disabling external entity processing in XML parsers, restricting network access to ColdFusion servers, applying WAF rules to block XXE payloads, and monitoring for unauthorized file access.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
XML External Entity (XXE) attacks exploit XML parsers that process Document Type Definitions (DTDs) without proper restrictions.
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EUVD-2026-100673
GHSA-r8wq-xrjj-rvh4
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
VulDB
Exploit-DB