# CVE-2023-38205: Adobe ColdFusion Improper Access Control Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-38205-adobe-coldfusion-improper-access-control-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-07-20. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2023-38205 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.5 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2023-07-20

Adobe ColdFusion is vulnerable to improper access control, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to bypass security features. This vulnerability enables access to sensitive administration CFM and CFC endpoints without requiring user interaction.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2023-38205 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2023-38205 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 20 July 2023. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2023-38205?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 20 July 2023.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Adobe ColdFusion 2018u18 and earlier, 2021u8 and earlier, 2023u2 and earlier.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2023-38205?** 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-2023-38205 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2023-38205?** 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 2018u18 and earlier, 2021u8 and earlier, 2023u2 and earlier

## Timeline

- 2023-07-20: disclosed: Initial publication date and addition to CISA KEV catalog.
- 2023-07-20: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
- 2023-09-14: advisory: NVD Published 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)