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CriticalCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Adobe ColdFusion unauthenticated RCE / arbitrary file read

IdentifiersCVE-2023-26360CWE-502

CVE-2023-26360 affects Adobe ColdFusion 2018 Update 15 and earlier and ColdFusion 2021 Update 5 and earlier. Adobe initially described the issue as an Improper Access Control vulnerability, but later updated its advisory to classify it as a Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability. The flaw is remotely exploitable without authentication or user interaction and has been described in the provided content as enabling arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user; multiple supporting references also state it can be used for arbitrary file read. The vulnerability has been associated with exploitation against public-facing ColdFusion servers, including government targets, and has also been discussed as chainable with CVE-2023-29298 to reach protected ColdFusion endpoints prior to exploitation.

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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 give an attacker initial access to a vulnerable ColdFusion server, including arbitrary code execution in the context of the ColdFusion process/current user. Supporting content also indicates arbitrary file read capability, enabling theft of sensitive configuration data, credentials, application secrets, and other files useful for follow-on compromise. In observed intrusions, exploitation of this vulnerability was used to gain footholds on internet-facing servers, deploy web shells, and support broader post-exploitation activity against enterprise and government environments.

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, especially to ColdFusion administrative and related endpoints, and monitor for suspicious HTTP requests involving ColdFusion paths such as /cf_scripts/scripts/ajax/ckeditor/ and CFIDE-related endpoints. Inspect system and network logs for signs of exploitation or follow-on activity, and look for web shells or unauthorized files on the server. Additional defensive controls such as WAF rules, IPS signatures, and network segmentation may help reduce exposure, but they are not substitutes for vendor patching.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade Adobe ColdFusion to a fixed release referenced in Adobe bulletin APSB23-25. Based on the provided content, vulnerable versions are ColdFusion 2018 Update 15 and earlier and ColdFusion 2021 Update 5 and earlier; fixed versions are ColdFusion 2018 Update 16 and ColdFusion 2021 Update 6. Because the vulnerability has been exploited in the wild, patching should be prioritized urgently. After patching, review the server for indicators of compromise, including suspicious requests to ColdFusion-related paths, unexpected web shells, anomalous administrator access, and evidence of post-exploitation tooling.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

5 valid exploits after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos (1 hidden).

VALID 5 / 6 TOTALView more in app
Adobe_ColdFusion_RCE_UnauthenticatedMaturityPoCVerified exploit

Small standalone exploit repository with 3 files: LICENSE, README.md, and a single Python entry point exploit.py. The repository is not itself part of a larger exploit framework. The Python script implements an unauthenticated Adobe ColdFusion RCE for CVE-2023-26360 using the same two-step technique described in the README: (1) send malformed _variables data to the exposed iedit.cfc endpoint so ColdFusion logs attacker-controlled CFML into coldfusion-out.log, then (2) abuse classname metadata/deserialization to load that poisoned log file as a ColdFusion template and execute the CFML. The payload avoids <cfexecute> and instead uses java.lang.Runtime.exec(), making it more reliable on hardened systems where cfexecute may be disabled. The exploit supports both Windows and Linux targets by selecting cmd.exe /C or /bin/sh -c, accepts an arbitrary operator-supplied command, and optionally routes traffic through an HTTP proxy. The CFML payload also attempts cleanup by truncating the current template file after execution. Main fingerprintable target artifact is the ColdFusion endpoint /cf_scripts/scripts/ajax/ckeditor/plugins/filemanager/iedit.cfc and the log path ..\logs\coldfusion-out.log. Overall, this is a functional operational PoC for unauthenticated command execution rather than a detector or documentation-only repository.

joaoaugustomDisclosed May 16, 2026pythonmarkdownwebnetwork
CVE-2023-26360MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a single Python script (CVE-2023-26360.py) that exploits CVE-2023-26360, an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion 2021 (up to Update 5) and 2018 (up to Update 15). The script allows an attacker to check if a target is running ColdFusion, execute arbitrary system commands, or obtain a reverse shell on the vulnerable server. It does so by injecting CFML payloads that leverage Java's Runtime.exec to execute commands or spawn a shell. The script is interactive and supports several modes: command execution, reverse shell, and interactive shell. It fingerprints the target by checking for ColdFusion-specific cookies and endpoints (such as /CFIDE/componentutils/cfcexplorer.cfc). The exploit is operational and does not require authentication, making it highly impactful if the target is vulnerable. The code is well-structured, with clear separation of functions for payload construction, target checking, and exploitation. No hardcoded IPs or domains are present; the attacker supplies the target and callback information via command-line arguments.

RyanRodrigues880Disclosed Nov 28, 2025pythonnetwork
CVE-2023-26360-RCEMaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository provides a working exploit for CVE-2023-26360, a remote code execution vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion 2021 (tested on Windows Server 2019). The exploit consists of two main Python scripts: 1. cve-2023-26360.py: The main exploit script, which crafts and sends malicious CFML payloads to a vulnerable ColdFusion server endpoint. It leverages the vulnerability to load a Java class from a remote server controlled by the attacker. 2. server.py: A simple HTTP server that serves a malicious Java payload (e.g., a reverse shell generated with msfvenom) to the target when requested. The README.md provides detailed setup and usage instructions, including how to generate the payload and configure the scripts. The exploit requires the attacker to set up both scripts with the correct IP addresses and ports. The attack vector is network-based, targeting the ColdFusion server over HTTP. The exploit achieves remote code execution by causing the target server to load and execute attacker-supplied Java code, typically resulting in a reverse shell. Notable endpoints include the vulnerable ColdFusion CFC endpoint, the attacker's payload server, and file paths used in the exploitation process. The repository is operational and provides a working exploit with a customizable payload.

H3rm1tR3b0rnDisclosed Oct 28, 2025pythonnetwork
CVE-2023-26360MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains a Python proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2023-26360, a vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion. The main file, 'CVE-2023-26360.py', allows an attacker to read arbitrary files from a vulnerable server by sending a specially crafted POST request to a .cfc endpoint (default: /CFIDE/wizards/common/utils.cfc). The exploit manipulates the '_metadata.classname' parameter in the JSON body to specify the file to read. If successful, the file contents are printed and saved to 'output.txt'. The repository also includes a minimal README with usage instructions and a requirements.txt specifying the 'requests' library. The exploit is network-based, requires knowledge of the target host and file path, and is intended for use against Adobe ColdFusion servers vulnerable to CVE-2023-26360.

yosef0x01Disclosed Dec 26, 2023pythonnetwork
CVE-2023-26360-adobe-coldfusion-rce-exploitMaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository provides a working exploit and detection script for critical vulnerabilities in Adobe ColdFusion (CVE-2023-26359, CVE-2023-26360, CVE-2023-26361). The main files are 'exploit.py' (the exploit) and 'detect.py' (the detection script). The exploit allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files or execute arbitrary commands on a vulnerable ColdFusion server by abusing insecure deserialization and improper access control in the /CFIDE/wizards/common/utils.cfc endpoint. The exploit supports both Linux and Windows targets, allows proxying, and can be used for both file read and RCE. The detection script checks for vulnerability by attempting to read a known file. The repository is operational and provides real exploit capability, not just a proof of concept. The README provides detailed background, usage instructions, and references to the relevant CVEs.

jakabakosDisclosed May 14, 2024pythonnetwork
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.

What this page doesn’t show

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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.
Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence1

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware1

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures1

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.