# CVE-2023-44353: ColdFusion WDDX Deserialization Gadgets

> Attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution in Adobe ColdFusion via unsafe deserialization of untrusted data without user interaction.

- **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:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 17 Nov 2023
- **Updated:** 4 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g46m-g2gp-9x28

## What is CVE-2023-44353?

CVE-2023-44353 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Adobe Coldfusion, published on 17 Nov 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Adobe ColdFusion versions 2023.5 (and earlier) and 2021.11 (and earlier) are affected by an Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability that could result in Arbitrary code execution. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-44353?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Adobe Coldfusion.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-44353?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-44353 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-44353 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-44353 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Adobe ColdFusion WDDX Deserialization Gadgets (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-44353.yaml

## 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-2023-44353 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-44353 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Adobe Coldfusion, published on 17 Nov 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-44353 exists.

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-2023-44353/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-44353/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-44353
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-44353
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-44353

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-44353/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.