Detect CVE-2026-48282: Adobe ColdFusion Path Traversal Exploitation in Google Chronicle
Detects exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2026-48282, a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in Adobe ColdFusion. Active exploitation confirmed by CISA KEV listing. Attackers may use directory traversal sequences in HTTP requests to read sensitive files outside the web root, including configuration files containing credentials, or to achieve remote code execution via file write primitives.
MITRE ATT&CK
YARA-L Detection Query
rule cve_2026_48282_coldfusion_path_traversal {
meta:
author = "df00tech Detection Engineering"
description = "Detects CVE-2026-48282 Adobe ColdFusion path traversal exploitation attempts"
severity = "CRITICAL"
priority = "HIGH"
reference = "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/coldfusion/apsb26-68.html"
yara_version = "YL2.0"
rule_version = "1.0"
events:
$req.metadata.event_type = "NETWORK_HTTP"
(
re.regex($req.network.http.request_url, `(?i)(\.\./|%2[eE]%2[eE][/%5c]|%252[eE]%252[eE]|%2[fF]%2[eE]%2[eE]%2[fF])`)
or
re.regex($req.network.http.request_url, `(?i)(\.%2[eE]/|%2[eE]%2[eE]%5[cC])`)
)
(
re.regex($req.network.http.request_url, `(?i)(\.cfm|\.cfc|/[Cc][Ff][Ii][Dd][Ee]/|/cf_scripts/|/rest/|/flex2gateway/)`)
)
$req.principal.ip = $ip
$req.network.http.response_code >= 0
match:
$ip over 10m
outcome:
$risk_score = max(
if($req.network.http.response_code = 200, 95, 70)
)
$traversal_url = array_distinct($req.network.http.request_url)
$response_codes = array_distinct($req.network.http.response_code)
$target_host = array_distinct($req.target.hostname)
condition:
#req >= 1
}Chronicle YARA-L 2.0 rule detecting Adobe ColdFusion path traversal exploitation matching CVE-2026-48282. Triggers on HTTP requests containing traversal sequences directed at ColdFusion endpoints, with risk score elevated for HTTP 200 responses indicating successful traversal.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Chronicle ingesting WAF or IDS logs that decode and re-log traversal sequences during normalization
- Third-party SaaS integration callbacks to ColdFusion APIs that use URL-encoded dot segments
- Google Cloud Load Balancer access logs where path encoding varies across log pipeline stages
- Automated uptime monitors testing ColdFusion REST endpoints with parameterized encoded paths
Other platforms for CVE-2026-48282
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 4 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1ColdFusion Path Traversal - Read neo-security.xml via URL traversal
Expected signal: IIS/Apache access log entry: GET /CFIDE/administrator/../../lib/neo-security.xml with source IP of test host. HTTP response code 200 if vulnerable, 400/403 if patched or WAF-blocked.
- Test 2ColdFusion Path Traversal - URL-encoded traversal to password.properties
Expected signal: Web server access log entry with URL-encoded traversal sequence. If server decodes before logging, DecodedURI will contain '../lib/password.properties'. If logged raw, csUriStem will contain '%2e%2e%2f%2e%2e%2f'.
- Test 3ColdFusion Path Traversal - Double-encoded traversal sequence (%252e%252e)
Expected signal: WAF logs should show the double-encoded payload. ColdFusion access logs may show decoded single-percent-encoded form if WAF decodes once before forwarding. Both log sources should be checked.
- Test 4ColdFusion Path Traversal - Enumerate ColdFusion web root via automated scan simulation
Expected signal: Multiple web server access log entries from the same source IP within a short window, each containing traversal sequences targeting different ColdFusion configuration file paths. HTTP response sizes will differ based on file accessibility.
References (4)
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/coldfusion/apsb26-68.html
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-implementation-guidance-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-48282
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