Unauthenticated code execution via WDDX deserialization
Published Jul 12, 2023 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
Deserialization in affected Adobe ColdFusion 2018, 2021, and 2023 servers allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via WDDX. The WDDX argumentCollection path accepts attacker-controlled class types, instantiates them through reflection, and invokes setter methods without an adequate class restriction. An unauthenticated network request to a remotely callable CFC is sufficient, and successful exploitation runs code with the ColdFusion service's privileges.
Summary
What happened
Deserialization in affected Adobe ColdFusion 2018, 2021, and 2023 servers allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via WDDX. The WDDX argumentCollection path accepts attacker-controlled class types, instantiates them through reflection, and invokes setter methods without an adequate class restriction. An unauthenticated network request to a remotely callable CFC is sufficient, and successful exploitation runs code with the ColdFusion service's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-29300
- Published
- Jul 12, 2023
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- Adobe Inc.
- Product
- ColdFusion
- Classifications
- CWE-502, CAPEC-586, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <=2023.0.0.330468
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
View daily counts
| Reporting day | Unique IPs |
|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2026 | 8 |
| Sep 23, 2026 | 2 |
| Sep 24, 2026 | 4 |
| Sep 25, 2026 | 4 |
| Sep 26, 2026 | 1 |
| Sep 27, 2026 | 9 |
| Sep 28, 2026 | 3 |
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- ProjectDiscovery ColdFusion WDDX proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- CISA ransomware campaign associationransomware
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entryknown exploited catalog
- Rapid7 observed ColdFusion exploitationreported exploitation
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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