Information Disclosure in Adobe ColdFusion (CVE‑2013‑0631) Threatens Data Confidentiality
What It Is
Adobe ColdFusion contains an undocumented flaw that can allow an unauthenticated attacker to retrieve sensitive information from the server’s memory or configuration files. The vulnerability is classified as an information‑disclosure issue, meaning it does not directly execute code but can expose data that aids further compromise.
Exploitability
The flaw is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating that active exploitation has been observed in the wild. Public proof‑of‑concept scripts have been shared in security forums, and the CVSS base score is 6.5 (Medium), reflecting a moderate likelihood of successful exploitation when the vulnerable service is exposed.
Affected Products
- Vendor: Adobe
- Product: Adobe ColdFusion (all supported versions prior to the vendor‑issued patch)
Why It Matters for Compliance & Audit Readiness
From a control‑assurance perspective, an information‑disclosure breach directly impacts access‑control and privacy requirements under frameworks such as NIST 800‑53, ISO 27001, and GDPR. Evidence of timely patch management, continuous configuration monitoring, and documented remediation steps are essential to demonstrate due diligence during audits. Failure to remediate can be interpreted as a lapse in the “Protect” function of the NIST CSF, weakening the organization’s defensible audit trail.
Recommended Actions
- Map the control: Align the vulnerability to the “Configuration Management” and “Access Control” controls in your security framework.
- Patch promptly: Apply Adobe’s security update for CVE‑2013‑0631 to all ColdFusion instances.
- Validate posture: Conduct vulnerability scans and penetration tests to confirm remediation.
- Capture evidence: Archive patch deployment logs, scan reports, and configuration baselines for audit purposes.
- Monitor continuously: Enable detailed logging on ColdFusion servers and integrate alerts into your SIEM to detect any anomalous data‑access attempts.
Source: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-0631