# CVE-2023-38205: Adobe ColdFusion - Authorization Bypass

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2023-38205 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-2023-38205

## 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 2018u18 (and earlier), 2021u8 (and earlier) and 2023u2 (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-2023-38205](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2023-38205) is a vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion that allows attackers to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to administrative CFM and CFC endpoints.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 15th of December 2023.

CrowdSec network observations suggest that most exploitation of CVE-2023-38205 involves focused reconnaissance to identify viable targets. Attackers typically tailor their campaigns based on system exposure and configuration. It is unlikely that a given attack is accidental.
Telemetry from the CrowdSec network also shows that exploitation activity for CVE-2023-38205 remains steady week-over-week. Attack volumes are consistent with long-term trends, indicating sustained interest from threat actors. CVE-2023-38205 continues to be an active part of the threat landscape and will likely remain this way for the forseeable future.

Attackers attempting to exploit this vulnerability typically probe for exposed administration endpoints within ColdFusion deployments.

## Timeline

- 2023-07-20: CISA KEV. CVE-2023-38205 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).
- 2023-09-14: CVE Published. CVE-2023-38205 is published to NVD.
- 2023-12-15: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2023-38205 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2024-11-27: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2023-38205 for the first time.

## References

- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/coldfusion/apsb23-47.html
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-38205.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-38205) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2023-38205. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.