# CVE-2018-4939: Adobe ColdFusion Deserialization of Untrusted Data

> An attacker can achieve arbitrary code execution by exploiting a deserialization vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 3 Nov 2021 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 19 May 2018
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-p86w-qv2x-rf6j

## What is CVE-2018-4939?

CVE-2018-4939 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Adobe Coldfusion, published on 19 May 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Adobe ColdFusion Update 5 and earlier versions, ColdFusion 11 Update 13 and earlier versions have an exploitable Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-4939?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Adobe Coldfusion.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-4939?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-4939 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 3 May 2022.

## Is CVE-2018-4939 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-4939 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

## Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Coldfusion

- [CVE-2026-48282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-48282/): Adobe ColdFusion Path Traversal (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-38203](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38203/): Adobe ColdFusion Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-29300](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29300/): Adobe ColdFusion Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-26359](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-26359/): Adobe ColdFusion Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-15961](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-15961/): Adobe ColdFusion Unrestricted File Upload (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-4939 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-4939 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Adobe Coldfusion, published on 19 May 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-4939 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Affected product: Adobe Coldfusion. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4939/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4939/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-4939
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-4939
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-4939

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4939/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.