CVE-2025-43566 is a path traversal vulnerability identified in Adobe ColdFusion versions 2025.1, 2023.13, 2021.19, and earlier. This vulnerability arises from improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory (CWE-22), allowing an attacker with high privileges to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized read access to arbitrary files on the file system. The vulnerability does not require user interaction to be exploited, and the scope of impact is changed, meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.8 (medium severity), with vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N, indicating that the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requires high privileges, no user interaction, and results in a confidentiality impact with a changed scope. The vulnerability specifically allows reading sensitive files that should be inaccessible, potentially exposing critical configuration files, credentials, or other sensitive data stored on the server. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the presence of this vulnerability in widely used ColdFusion versions poses a significant risk if leveraged by attackers with elevated privileges. Given ColdFusion's role as a web application platform, unauthorized file read access can facilitate further attacks such as privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within an organization’s network.

For European organizations, the exploitation of CVE-2025-43566 could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including intellectual property, personal data protected under GDPR, and internal configuration details. This could result in regulatory penalties, loss of customer trust, and operational disruptions. Since the vulnerability requires high privileges, it implies that an attacker must have already compromised an account or system with elevated rights, making this vulnerability a critical step in an attack chain rather than an initial entry point. The changed scope means that the attacker could access files outside the originally intended directory boundaries, increasing the potential damage. Organizations relying on ColdFusion for critical business applications or hosting sensitive data are particularly at risk. The confidentiality breach could also facilitate further attacks such as ransomware deployment or espionage. Given the medium CVSS score but high confidentiality impact, European entities should prioritize remediation to prevent data breaches and comply with data protection regulations.

1. Immediate application of any available patches or updates from Adobe for ColdFusion versions 2025.1, 2023.13, 2021.19, or earlier is the primary mitigation step. 2. If patches are not yet available, implement strict access controls to limit high-privileged user accounts and monitor their activities closely. 3. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block path traversal attempts targeting ColdFusion endpoints. 4. Conduct thorough audits of file system permissions to ensure that ColdFusion processes run with the least privileges necessary, minimizing accessible files. 5. Implement network segmentation to isolate ColdFusion servers from sensitive data stores and critical infrastructure. 6. Monitor logs for unusual file access patterns or attempts to access restricted directories. 7. Educate administrators and developers about secure coding practices to avoid similar vulnerabilities in custom ColdFusion applications. 8. Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing potential data exfiltration scenarios involving ColdFusion servers.