Detect CVE-2026-48282: Adobe ColdFusion Path Traversal Exploitation in Elastic Security
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
Elastic Detection Query
sequence by source.ip with maxspan=10m
[network where event.dataset in ("iis.access", "apache.access", "nginx.access")
and (
url.path : ("*../*", "*..%2f*", "*..%2F*", "*%2e%2e*", "*%252e%252e*", "*..%5c*", "*..%5C*")
or url.query : ("*../*", "*..%2f*", "*..%2F*", "*%2e%2e*")
)
and (
url.path : ("*.cfm*", "*.cfc*", "*/CFIDE/*", "*/cfide/*", "*/cf_scripts/*", "*/rest/*", "*/flex2gateway/*")
)
] with runs=1Elastic EQL sequence query detecting single or repeated path traversal attempts against Adobe ColdFusion endpoints. Correlates events from the same source IP within a 10-minute window. Covers both URL-encoded and double-encoded traversal sequences.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Authorized vulnerability scanners (Tenable, Rapid7) configured to test ColdFusion targets
- CI/CD pipelines running DAST tools such as OWASP ZAP against staging ColdFusion environments
- Browser extensions or proxies that encode URLs before forwarding, producing double-encoded sequences
- Legacy ColdFusion applications with non-standard URL routing that legitimately use encoded dot sequences
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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