---
id: "CVE-2023-38203"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2023-38203"]
title: "Adobe ColdFusion versions 2018u17 (and earlier), 2021u7 (and earlier) and 2023u1 (and earlier) are affected by a\u2026"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.8
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: [{"name": "Adobe ColdFusion", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "adobe coldfusion", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 2018", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "adobe coldfusion", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 2021", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "adobe coldfusion", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 2023", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["adobe-coldfusion", "exploited", "ransomware", "runtime", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["unknown"]
published_at: "2023-07-20T16:15:12+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-38203", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38203", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"}]
---

# Adobe ColdFusion versions 2018u17 (and earlier), 2021u7 (and earlier) and 2023u1 (and earlier) are affected by a…

Adobe ColdFusion has a deserialization flaw that handles untrusted data unsafely, letting an attacker run code on the server. CISA lists it as actively exploited, with ransomware use noted in its catalog tags.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Adobe ColdFusion affected ? fixed ?
- vendor:adobe coldfusion affected = 2018 fixed ?
- vendor:adobe coldfusion affected = 2021 fixed ?
- vendor:adobe coldfusion affected = 2023 fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the mitigations and patches per Adobe's vendor instructions; if mitigations are unavailable, discontinue use of the product (per CISA required action).

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2023-38203
- 2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38203

## From the sources

Adobe ColdFusion versions 2018u17 (and earlier), 2021u7 (and earlier) and 2023u1 (and earlier) are affected by a Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability that could result in Arbitrary code execution. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_