CVE-2025-61813 is an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability classified under CWE-611, impacting Adobe ColdFusion versions 2025.4, 2023.16, 2021.22, and earlier. The vulnerability arises from improper restriction of XML external entity references, allowing attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that cause the ColdFusion server to process external entities. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive files on the server's filesystem. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The scope is changed, indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially compromising broader system confidentiality. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.2, reflecting high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction (UI:R) which may indicate some form of indirect triggering. The impact is primarily on confidentiality (high), with limited impact on availability (low) and no integrity impact. No public exploits are currently known, but the vulnerability's nature and affected product's widespread use make it a critical concern. ColdFusion is commonly used in enterprise web applications, often handling sensitive business logic and data, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous if exploited. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate defensive measures to mitigate risk.

For European organizations, exploitation of CVE-2025-61813 could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive internal files, including configuration files, credentials, or proprietary data, severely impacting confidentiality. This could result in data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), reputational damage, and potential financial losses. Since ColdFusion is often used in government, financial, healthcare, and enterprise environments across Europe, the exposure of sensitive information could have cascading effects on national security, critical infrastructure, and business continuity. The vulnerability's remote exploitability without authentication increases the likelihood of attacks from external threat actors, including cybercriminals and state-sponsored groups. Additionally, the changed scope suggests that exploitation could affect multiple components or systems interconnected with ColdFusion, amplifying the risk. Organizations may face increased scrutiny from regulators and customers if sensitive data is leaked. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity score underscores the urgency of mitigation.

1. Monitor Adobe's official channels closely for patches addressing CVE-2025-61813 and apply them immediately upon release. 2. In the interim, disable XML external entity processing in ColdFusion configurations if feasible, to prevent XXE exploitation. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all XML inputs to block malicious payloads. 4. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious XML entity references. 5. Restrict network access to ColdFusion servers by applying network segmentation and limiting inbound traffic to trusted sources only. 6. Conduct thorough audits of ColdFusion server configurations and logs to detect any anomalous activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Educate developers and administrators about secure XML processing practices and the risks of XXE vulnerabilities. 8. Consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions to detect and block exploitation attempts in real-time. 9. Review and enhance incident response plans to quickly address potential breaches stemming from this vulnerability. 10. Regularly back up critical data and configurations to enable rapid recovery if compromise occurs.