CVE-2025-61823 is an Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (XXE) vulnerability classified under CWE-611, affecting Adobe ColdFusion versions 2025.4, 2023.16, 2021.22, and earlier. This vulnerability arises from ColdFusion's XML parser improperly handling external entity references, allowing an attacker with high privileges to craft malicious XML input that triggers the server to disclose arbitrary files from its file system. The vulnerability requires user interaction, indicating that an attacker must induce a legitimate user or process to submit the malicious XML payload. The scope of the vulnerability is changed, meaning the impact extends beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially affecting other parts of the system or data domains. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, high privileges required, user interaction needed, scope change, high confidentiality impact, but no impact on integrity or availability. No public exploits are currently known, and Adobe has not yet published patches, though the vulnerability is officially published and reserved since October 2025. This vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to access sensitive configuration files, credentials, or other critical data stored on the ColdFusion server, potentially facilitating further attacks or data breaches.

For European organizations, exploitation of CVE-2025-61823 could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored on ColdFusion servers, including configuration files, credentials, or proprietary data. This data leakage could compromise confidentiality and enable subsequent attacks such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. Given that ColdFusion is often used in enterprise web applications, the exposure of sensitive business or customer data could result in regulatory non-compliance, reputational damage, and financial penalties under GDPR. The requirement for high privileges and user interaction somewhat limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where privileged users interact with untrusted data sources or external inputs. The scope change aspect means that the vulnerability could affect multiple components or data domains, increasing the potential impact. Organizations running legacy or unpatched ColdFusion versions are particularly at risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate threat but does not preclude future exploitation.

1. Monitor Adobe's official channels for patches addressing CVE-2025-61823 and apply them promptly once available. 2. Until patches are released, disable or restrict XML external entity processing in ColdFusion configurations where possible to prevent XXE exploitation. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization for all XML inputs processed by ColdFusion applications. 4. Limit the number of users with high privileges on ColdFusion servers and enforce the principle of least privilege. 5. Employ network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict access to ColdFusion servers from untrusted networks. 6. Use application-layer firewalls or XML security gateways that can detect and block malicious XML payloads containing external entity references. 7. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on XML processing components. 8. Educate users with high privileges about the risks of interacting with untrusted XML content to reduce the likelihood of user interaction-based exploitation. 9. Monitor logs for unusual XML parsing errors or file access patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation.