# CVE-2023-29298: Adobe ColdFusion - Authentication Bypass

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2023-29298 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-29298

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Background Noise. Continuous low-level scanning or exploitation attempts are observed, mostly opportunistic and automated.
- **CVSS score:** 7.5
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** Adobe ColdFusion
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Description

Adobe ColdFusion versions 2018u16 (and earlier), 2021u6 (and earlier) and 2023.0.0.330468 (and earlier) are affected by an Improper Access Control vulnerability that could result in a Security feature bypass. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to access the administration CFM and CFC endpoints. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2023-29298](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2023-29298) is an improper access control vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion that allows attackers to bypass security features and gain unauthorized access to administrative CFM and CFC endpoints. This flaw can be exploited remotely without user interaction, potentially enabling attackers to compromise sensitive administrative functions and escalate their privileges.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 12th of June 2025.

CrowdSec network data shows that most actors exploiting CVE-2023-29298 rely on broad, untargeted scans with minimal filtering. The activity is largely automated and opportunistic in nature.
Additionally, according to week-over-week analysis by CrowdSec, exploitation of CVE-2023-29298 is surging. Attack volumes are spiking well above historical norms, indicating widespread and escalating interest from threat actors. CVE-2023-29298 is currently experiencing high visibility and active exploitation across the internet.

Attackers exploit this vulnerability by requesting `.cfc` or `.cfm` files under the `//CFIDE/` path, bypassing access controls and gaining unauthorized access to ColdFusion administrative endpoints.

## Timeline

- 2023-07-12: CVE Published. CVE-2023-29298 is published to NVD.
- 2023-07-20: CISA KEV. CVE-2023-29298 is added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog by CISA.
- 2023-08-10: CISA Remediation Deadline. Expiration of the CISA remediation deadline as described in [BOD 22-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-22-01-reducing-significant-risk-known-exploited-vulnerabilities).
- 2025-06-12: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2023-29298 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2025-07-07: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2023-29298 for the first time.

## References

- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/coldfusion/apsb23-40.html
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-29298.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-29298) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2023-29298. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.