CriticalCVE-2010-2861

    Adobe ColdFusion Directory Traversal Vulnerability (CVE-2010-2861)

    Published Last modified In CISA KEV since Sources: CVE.org

    What is affected, what to do

    A directory traversal vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion 9.0.1 allows an attacker to read arbitrary files via the administrator console interface without authentication. This vulnerability is actively exploited in ransomware campaigns since 2022. Affected products include all installations of Adobe ColdFusion 9.0.1 and earlier. Immediate patching to a newer version is critical to mitigate this security risk.

    The vulnerability is being actively exploited; treat it as a priority. CISA lists it as used in ransomware campaigns. The available sources name no fixed version. Check the vendor guidance in the references below. Immediate actions, mitigation and detection rules are in the runbook below.

    Affected
    • Adobe ColdFusion lte *..9.0.1

    Not sure whether and how you are affected? Ask a question about this vulnerability

    Metrics

    9.8

    Priority

    XIEM Effective CVSS: highest available CVSS rating from NVD and vendor data.

    Source: NVD, CVSS v3

    9.8

    CVSS v3

    Severity Critical on the scale from 0 to 10.

    Source: CVE.org

    99.75 %

    EPSS score

    High — model estimates ≥ 50% chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days.

    Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 99.95

    Show all metrics
    Severity
    Critical
    Priority (0–325)

    The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first?

    Read in glossary
    253.92 Methodology
    Exploit maturity

    An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack.

    Read in glossary
    actively exploited
    XIEM Effective CVSS

    XIEM® is the tiered managed-security operating model from NEOSEC and a registered trademark of NEOSEC GmbH. It extends classic SIEM — the central collection, normalisation and correlation of security-relevant events — with endpoint forensics, network visibility and deception technology, and consolidates them into three building tiers: Sentry, Orchestrate and Command.

    Read in glossary
    9.8 Methodology
    CVSS v3

    CVSS is the globally established, open standard for assessing the technical severity of a vulnerability on a scale from 0 to 10. It describes how easily a flaw can be exploited and what damage it can cause — but not how likely its actual exploitation is. CVSS and the complementary EPSS deliberately answer different questions.

    Read in glossary
    9.8
    EPSS score

    The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“.

    Read in glossary
    99.75 %
    High — model estimates ≥ 50% chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days.
    EPSS percentile

    The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking.

    Read in glossary
    99.95
    Critical — this CVE ranks in the top fifth of all CVEs scored today (rank ≥ 80%).
    KEV status

    The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.

    Read in glossary
    Actively exploited
    Published
    In CISA KEV since

    The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.

    Read in glossary
    CISA assessment (SSVC)
    Exploitation: active · automatable · Technical impact: partial
    Source: CISA Vulnrichment, as of 14 August 2026
    CWE

    CWE is a catalogue of typical weakness types in software and hardware — such as flawed input validation, unsafe memory handling or poor authentication. Where a CVE names a concrete vulnerability in a concrete product, a CWE describes the underlying class of defect.

    Read in glossary
    CWE-22

    Response and mitigation

    Why act now?

    Prioritisation rationale

    This CVE is on CISA KEV because it is trivially exploitable over the network, requires no authentication, and gives attackers arbitrary file read — in practice they grab password.properties, crack the admin hash and then deploy a CFM webshell via the ColdFusion console. Exploitation likelihood sits among the highest tracked by EPSS, and CISA flags the bug as actively used in ransomware campaigns. Treat any externally or semi-publicly reachable ColdFusion 9.0.1 instance as a P1 incident; internal instances in flat networks remain high priority because post-perimeter lateral movement specifically targets ColdFusion. Legacy hosts without a patch path are candidates for immediate isolation or decommissioning.

    1. Runbook step 1

      Immediate response (0-24 h)

      • Patch Adobe ColdFusion 9.0.1 and earlier to a vendor-supported release immediately (Adobe Security Bulletin APSB10-18 hotfix covers CF 8.0, 8.0.1, 9.0, 9.0.1). End-of-life installations without a support contract should be decommissioned or migrated as a priority.
      • Restrict access to /CFIDE/administrator/ and /CFIDE/adminapi/ at the reverse proxy, WAF or perimeter firewall to a defined set of admin jump hosts — no internet exposure, not even over TLS.
      • Rotate all ColdFusion administrator and RDS passwords; inspect password.properties for hashes unchanged since the CVE disclosure. Invalidate active admin sessions.
      • Forensic sweep: review ColdFusion logs (application.log, exception.log, server.log) and web server access logs (IIS/Apache) for requests containing locale= with ../ sequences targeting the five affected CFM files, going back at least 90 days. Any hit → escalate as incident.
      • If patching cannot happen quickly: block /CFIDE/administrator/ entirely at the web server (IIS Request Filtering, Apache <Location> Deny) until the fix is in production.

    2. Runbook step 2

      Mitigation layers

      • Network segmentation: place ColdFusion hosts in a dedicated server VLAN; allow outbound traffic only to database, SMTP and patching infrastructure, no arbitrary egress (stops webshell staging and exfiltration).
      • WAF / reverse proxy signature: drop requests to /CFIDE/administrator/*.cfm where the locale parameter contains ../, ..\\, URL-encoded variants (%2e%2e%2f, %252e%252e%252f) or absolute paths. Enable OWASP CRS rules 930110/930120 in blocking mode.
      • Filesystem hardening: run the ColdFusion service under a dedicated low-privilege account; minimise its read access to password.properties, seed.properties, neo-security.xml, the webroot and config files. No read rights on user profiles or /etc/shadow equivalents.
      • IAM: disable RDS if unused (ColdFusion Administrator → Security → RDS → Disable). Expose the admin console only through VPN with MFA.
      • Admin-UI monitoring: any HTTP request against CFIDE/administrator/enter.cfm originating outside the admin network triggers a high-priority SIEM alert.
      • Virtual patching via perimeter IPS (Snort/Suricata) until the vendor fix is fully rolled out and verified.

    3. Runbook step 3

      Detection rules

      • Web server access log (IIS/Apache/nginx): pattern GET /CFIDE/administrator/(enter|settings/mappings|logging/settings|datasources/index|j2eepackaging/editarchive)\.cfm\?.*locale=.*\.\. — any hit is almost certainly an exploitation attempt.
      • Sigma shape: selection: cs-uri-stem contains 'CFIDE/administrator' AND cs-uri-query contains any ('../','..\\','%2e%2e','%252e') → level: high.
      • Splunk/KQL snippet: index=web sourcetype=iis cs_uri_stem="/CFIDE/administrator/*" cs_uri_query="*locale=*" cs_uri_query="*..*" | stats count by c_ip, cs_uri_stem.
      • Filesystem monitoring (Sysmon EID 11 / auditd path): ColdFusion process (jrun.exe, coldfusion.exe, java.exe) accessing password.properties, seed.properties, neo-security.xml or any path outside the ColdFusion directory tree → alert.
      • Process ancestry (EDR, Sysmon EID 1): ColdFusion/JRun process spawning cmd.exe, powershell.exe, net.exe, whoami.exe, cscript.exe → isolate host immediately; typical sign of a webshell dropped after admin credentials were leaked.
      • Network (Zeek http.log): high request rate from a single source IP against multiple CFM resources under /CFIDE/administrator/ in a short window → scan or exploitation pattern.

    Detection rules

    No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.

    Classification under NIS2 and CRA

    Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.

    NIS2

    NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.

    Read in glossary
    Actively exploited: treat the vulnerability as a priority in vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2. If it is exploited in your environment, check the reporting obligation under Art. 23 (early warning within 24 hours).
    CRA

    The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.

    Read in glossary
    Since 11.09.2026, manufacturers of affected products with digital elements must report actively exploited vulnerabilities under Art. 14 CRA, with an early warning within 24 hours via ENISA's single reporting platform.
    ISO/IEC 27001

    ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.

    Read in glossary
    Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.

    Description

    Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in the administrator console in Adobe ColdFusion 9.0.1 and earlier allow remote attackers to read arbitrary files via the locale parameter to (1) CFIDE/administrator/settings/mappings.cfm, (2) logging/settings.cfm, (3) datasources/index.cfm, (4) j2eepackaging/editarchive.cfm, and (5) enter.cfm in CFIDE/administrator/.

    Source: NVD (NIST), cvelistv5, CISA KEV Catalog, CVE.org (MITRE)

    Affected products

    The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.

    Affected products
    Affected versionsFixed in
    adobecoldfusion
    • ≤ 9.0.1
    • —

    Vendors and products

    Weakness classes (CWE)

    • CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

      Base

      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.

      Entry at MITRE CWE-22

    Public exploit references

    Publicly reported proof-of-concepts, exploit modules and detection templates for this vulnerability. NEOSEC links to the original sources only and does not provide any exploit code.

    Public exploit references
    CISA KEV CatalogCISA Known Exploited Vulnerability (opens in a new tab)cisa.govactively exploited
    PoC-in-GitHub (nomi-sec)vulhub-coldfusion-cve-2010-2861 (opens in a new tab)github.comPoC (publicly reported)reported, not verified

    References & sources

    • gnucitizen.orgblog/coldfusion-directory-traversal-faq-cve-2010-2861x_refsource_MISC
    • procheckup.comvulnerability_manager/vulnerabilities/pr10-07x_refsource_MISC
    • adobe.comsupport/security/bulletins/apsb10-18.htmlx_refsource_CONFIRM
    • securityreason.com8137Third-party advisory, x_refsource_SREASON
    • securityreason.com8148Third-party advisory, x_refsource_SREASON
    • cisa.govknown-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-2861government-resource

    Changes to this CVE

    Who changed this CVE and when: NVD (analysis, affected products, CVSS), the CVE publisher (CNA) and additional providers such as CISA (ADP).

    1. NVD analysis modifiedNVD

    2. Record modifiedAdobe

      Show 15 original changes
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Referenceadded
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8137
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8148
      Referenceadded
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      http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-18.html
      Referenceadded
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      http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/coldfusion-directory-traversal-faq-cve-2010-2861/
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      http://www.procheckup.com/vulnerability_manager/vulnerabilities/pr10-07
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8137
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8148
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      http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-18.html
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      http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/coldfusion-directory-traversal-faq-cve-2010-2861/
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      http://www.procheckup.com/vulnerability_manager/vulnerabilities/pr10-07
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8137 Types: Broken Link
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8148 Types: Broken Link
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      http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-18.html Types: Not Applicable, Vendor Advisory
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      http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/coldfusion-directory-traversal-faq-cve-2010-2861/ Types: Exploit
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      http://www.procheckup.com/vulnerability_manager/vulnerabilities/pr10-07 Types: Broken Link
      —

      Source identifier: psirt@adobe.com

    3. Record modifiedCISA ADP

      CVSS V3.1: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

      CVSS V3.1: before AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, after —

      CISA assessment (SSVC): exploitation: active, automatable: yes

      Show 7 original changes
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      CVSSadded
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      AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
      CVSSremoved
      AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
      —
      Referenceadded
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      https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-2861
      Referenceremoved
      https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-2861
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      Reference typeremoved
      https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2010-2861 Types: US Government Resource
      —
      SSVC assessmentremoved
      {"id":"CVE-2010-2861","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"exploitation":"active"},{"automatable":"yes"},{"technicalImpact":"partial"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2022-03-22T00:00:00+00:00"}
      —
      SSVC assessmentadded
      —
      {"id":"CVE-2010-2861","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"exploitation":"active"},{"automatable":"yes"},{"technicalImpact":"partial"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2026-08-14T03:55:51.874514Z"}

      Source identifier: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

    4. Record modifiedCVE Program

      Show 15 original changes
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Referenceadded
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8137
      Referenceadded
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8148
      Referenceadded
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      http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-18.html
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      http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/coldfusion-directory-traversal-faq-cve-2010-2861/
      Referenceadded
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      http://www.procheckup.com/vulnerability_manager/vulnerabilities/pr10-07
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8137
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8148
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      http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-18.html
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      http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/coldfusion-directory-traversal-faq-cve-2010-2861/
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      http://www.procheckup.com/vulnerability_manager/vulnerabilities/pr10-07
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8137 Types: Broken Link
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      http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8148 Types: Broken Link
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      http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-18.html Types: Not Applicable, Vendor Advisory
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      http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/coldfusion-directory-traversal-faq-cve-2010-2861/ Types: Exploit
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      Reference typeremoved
      http://www.procheckup.com/vulnerability_manager/vulnerabilities/pr10-07 Types: Broken Link
      —

      Source identifier: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108

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