CriticalCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Adobe ColdFusion Deserialization of Untrusted Data RCE

IdentifiersCVE-2023-29300CWE-502· Deserialization of Untrusted Data

Adobe ColdFusion 2018 Update 16 and earlier, 2021 Update 6 and earlier, and 2023.0.0.330468 and earlier are affected by a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The provided content explicitly identifies the issue as a deserialization flaw in ColdFusion and notes that exploitation does not require user interaction. Supporting context further places this CVE among ColdFusion flaws exploited remotely against internet-facing deployments, including campaigns leveraging crafted requests against exposed ColdFusion endpoints to achieve remote code execution.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation can result in arbitrary code execution on the vulnerable ColdFusion server. In practical terms, this gives an attacker the ability to execute code in the context of the ColdFusion service, establish initial access, deploy follow-on payloads such as webshells or ransomware tooling, manipulate the application server, and pivot further into the victim environment. The content also associates this CVE with real-world exploitation by Storm-0501/Embargo for initial access to victim networks.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure of ColdFusion servers by restricting public access to ColdFusion endpoints and administrative interfaces, especially CFIDE and other internet-facing CFM/CFC paths, through network ACLs, reverse proxies, VPN-only access, or IP allowlisting. Monitor for suspicious crafted requests to ColdFusion endpoints, unexpected child processes from the ColdFusion service, outbound callback traffic, and indicators of webshell or post-exploitation activity. These measures are temporary risk reductions and do not replace vendor patching.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply Adobe’s security updates for ColdFusion referenced in APSB23-40 that remediate CVE-2023-29300. Upgrade affected ColdFusion installations to a vendor-fixed version newer than 2018u16, 2021u6, and 2023.0.0.330468, as applicable. Because this vulnerability has been exploited in the wild, exposed systems should be patched on an urgent basis and reviewed for signs of compromise after updating.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

AdobeColdfusionapplication

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

10 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

10 SOURCESView more in app

shroudcloudNews

Apr 14, 2026

Embargo - ShroudCloud

An Adobe ColdFusion vulnerability cited as one of the known N-days exploited by Storm-0501/Embargo for initial access.

secpod blogNews

Jan 6, 2026

Mass Exploitation Campaign Targeting Adobe ColdFusion Servers Detected During Christmas Holiday

A remote code execution vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion, allowing attackers to execute code remotely.

securityaffairsNews

Jan 3, 2026

Thousands of ColdFusion exploit attempts spotted during Christmas holiday

A remote code execution vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion, targeted in a coordinated exploitation campaign.

securityaffairsNews

Jan 3, 2026

Thousands of ColdFusion exploit attempts spotted during Christmas holiday

A remote code execution vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion, targeted in a coordinated exploitation campaign.

+6 more in the timeline

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.

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Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence3

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware1

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures2

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.

EXTERNAL REFERENCES

MITRE CVE

cve.org · CVE-2023-29300

NVD

nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-29300

MITRE CWE · CWE-502

Deserialization of Untrusted Data

Vendor Advisory

helpx.adobe.com/security/products/coldfusion/apsb23-40.html

Third Party Advisory

cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-29300