CVE-2025-49541 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting multiple versions of Adobe ColdFusion, specifically versions 2025.2, 2023.14, 2021.20, and earlier. The vulnerability allows a high-privileged attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into vulnerable form fields within ColdFusion applications. When a victim user accesses a page containing the injected script, the malicious code executes in their browser context. This can lead to unauthorized actions such as session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation within the user's browser session. The vulnerability is scoped to internal IP addresses, meaning the vulnerable component is accessible only within an internal network or VPN environment, limiting exposure from the public internet. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is adjacent network (internal), requires low attack complexity, high privileges, and user interaction to trigger the exploit. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is low, with no impact on availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating it is a classic stored XSS issue where malicious input is persistently stored and later rendered without proper sanitization or encoding. This vulnerability poses a risk primarily in internal enterprise environments where ColdFusion is used for web application development and deployment, especially where trusted users have elevated privileges to input data into forms. The stored XSS could be leveraged to target other internal users or administrators, potentially leading to lateral movement or privilege escalation within the internal network.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-49541 can be significant in environments where Adobe ColdFusion is used extensively for internal web applications. Since the vulnerability is limited to internal IP scopes, it primarily threatens internal users and administrators who have access to the affected ColdFusion applications. Exploitation could lead to the compromise of user sessions, theft of sensitive internal data, and potential pivoting to other internal systems. This is particularly concerning for organizations in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where internal data confidentiality and integrity are critical. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is not trivial, it requires a high-privileged attacker and user interaction, somewhat limiting the attack surface. However, in large enterprises with many internal users and complex application environments, the risk of exploitation increases. Additionally, the lack of available patches at the time of disclosure means organizations must rely on other mitigations to reduce risk. The vulnerability could also be leveraged in targeted attacks or insider threat scenarios, which are relevant concerns for European organizations subject to strict data protection regulations like GDPR.

1. Restrict access to ColdFusion administrative and application interfaces strictly to trusted internal IP ranges and implement network segmentation to isolate vulnerable systems. 2. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block malicious script payloads targeting form inputs in ColdFusion applications. 3. Conduct thorough input validation and output encoding on all form fields within ColdFusion applications to prevent injection of executable scripts; use ColdFusion's built-in functions for sanitization where possible. 4. Enforce the principle of least privilege by limiting high-privileged user accounts that can input data into vulnerable forms, and monitor their activities closely. 5. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers accessing internal applications. 6. Regularly audit and review internal ColdFusion applications for insecure coding practices that could allow stored XSS. 7. Monitor internal network traffic and logs for unusual activity indicative of attempted exploitation. 8. Stay updated with Adobe's security advisories and apply patches promptly once they become available. 9. Educate internal users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or interacting with untrusted content within internal applications.