ColdFusion 2025: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
CVE-2026-90530 is a critical-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in ColdFusion 2025 from Adobe, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.3 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected ColdFusion 2025 versions: 2025.0.13 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.34% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of ColdFusion 2025 you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe | ColdFusion 2025 | 2025.0.13 and earlier | Not stated |
| Adobe | ColdFusion 2023 | 2023.0.25 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (adobe.com).
Official description
ColdFusion RDS is affected by an Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') 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. RDS is purely a development feature meant for debugging purposes, and switching ColdFusion to Production Secure Profile automatically disables RDS. The Lockdown Guide outlines the specific step to disable RDS if a ColdFusion server is not being used in Production Secure Profile.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
- Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.
More Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities (CWE-22)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
- guides.adobe.com/coldfusion/en/docs/coldfusion-tools/security-remote-development-services-rds.html
- guides.adobe.com/coldfusion/en/docs/install-and-configure-coldfusion/installing-the-server-configuration.html
- helpx.adobe.com/coldfusion/configuring-administering/administering-coldfusion-security.html
- adobe.com/cc-shared/assets/pdf/products/coldfusion-family/coldfusion-2025-lockdown-guide-1-1.pdf
- adobe.com/trust/security/products/coldfusion/apsb26-144.html
- stigviewer.com/stigs/adobe_coldfusion/2026-05-13/finding/V-279042
Other vulnerabilities in ColdFusion 2025
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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