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CVE-2023-38203

Analysis CVE-2023-29300 Bypass: Adobe ColdFusion Pre-Auth RCE

Published: Jul 20, 2023Updated: Oct 23, 2025 Sources: CVE List NVD BDUCWE-502
9.8CRITICAL
NVD MITRE
EPSS Score
96.5%
Top 0.1%
CISA KEV
Active Exploitation
Since Jan 8, 2024
Exploits
No Known Exploits
Remediation
Patch Available
Self-Check
Nuclei · OpenVAS

Description

Adobe ColdFusion versions 2018u17 (and earlier), 2021u7 (and earlier) and 2023u1 (and earlier) are affected by a Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability that could result in Arbitrary code execution. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.

In plain language

AI Act now

CVE-2023-38203 is an Adobe ColdFusion security hole that lets an attacker run code on your server over the network without logging in; if you run an affected ColdFusion version, you should treat this as urgent.

Executive summary

CVE-2023-38203 is an unauthenticated pre-auth remote code execution in Adobe ColdFusion caused by unsafe deserialization of untrusted data, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code over the network.

If affected, business impact
Full server compromiseRansomware deployment riskCustomer data theft riskService downtime

What to do now

  1. Check whether your Adobe ColdFusion version is 2018u17 or earlier, 2021u7 or earlier, or 2023u1 or earlier.
  2. If it matches, stop exposing the ColdFusion server to the public internet as much as possible (restrict firewall/network access).
  3. Apply the vendor fix from Adobe Security Bulletin APSB23-41 to your ColdFusion installation.
  4. Verify the update by confirming the running ColdFusion build/version now matches the fixed releases listed in APSB23-41.
  5. If you cannot apply the fix quickly, discontinue use (or replace) until mitigations per Adobe guidance are in place.
Patch / advisory Some work to apply

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:NAC:LPR:NUI:NS:UC:HI:HA:H
Exploitability
AV:NAttack Vector
Network
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:NPrivileges Required
None
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:HAvailability
High
Open in CVSS calculator →

Weaknesses

CWE-502

Affected Products

Adobe Systems Inc.
commercial·USaka Adobe
ColdFusion
Consumer Software
and 2 more affected products View all →

Exploitability

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
Added to KEV:Jan 8, 2024
Remediation due:Jan 29, 2024
Ransomware:Known ransomware use

Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Official Patch Available
Is your org exposed to CVE-2023-38203?We'll check your whole external perimeter for exposure — free. Check my exposure

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

Click technique nodes for MITRE ATT&CK details · drag to pan · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll to zoom, or go fullscreen.

MITRE ATT&CK

3 techniques
Execution
Initial Access
View detailed technique mapping

References

https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/coldfusion/apsb23-41.html
helpx.adobe.com
https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/18/cve-2023-29298-cve-2023-38203/
helpnetsecurity.com
https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/coldfusion/apsb23-41.html
helpx.adobe.com
and 1 more references View all →
News mentions
1

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