# CVE-2018-15961: Adobe ColdFusion Unrestricted File Upload Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-15961-adobe-coldfusion-unrestricted-file-upload-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2018-15961 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

Adobe ColdFusion contains an unrestricted file upload vulnerability (CWE-434) in multiple versions. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this to upload malicious files, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on the server.

Technologies: [Adobe ColdFusion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/coldfusion). Vendors: [Adobe](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/adobe).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2018-15961 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2018-15961 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2018-15961?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Adobe ColdFusion 2018.0.0.310739 (July 12 release) and earlier; 2016 Update 14 and earlier; 11 Update 6 and earlier.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2018-15961?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2018-15961 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2018-15961?** Check whether you run Adobe ColdFusion. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Adobe ColdFusion 2018.0.0.310739 (July 12 release) and earlier; 2016 Update 14 and earlier; 11 Update 6 and earlier

## Timeline

- 2018-09-11: advisory: Adobe released security bulletin APSB18-33
- 2021-11-03: kev added: CISA added this vulnerability to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
- 2021-11-03: disclosed: NVD publication date.

## Related threats

- [Adobe ColdFusion RDS path traversal arbitrary file read](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-90530-coldfusion-rds-is-affected-by-an-improper-limitation-of-a)
- [Adobe ColdFusion server-side request forgery privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-76001-coldfusion-is-affected-by-a-server-side-request-forgery-ssrf)
- [Adobe ColdFusion uncontrolled resource consumption denial-of-service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-75996-coldfusion-is-affected-by-an-uncontrolled-resource-consumption)
- [Adobe ColdFusion improper input validation in administrative component](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-75995-coldfusion-is-affected-by-an-improper-input-validation)
- [Adobe ColdFusion server-side request forgery privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-75748-coldfusion-is-affected-by-a-server-side-request-forgery-ssrf)