Allaire Security Bulletin (ASB99-01) Expression Evaluator Security Issues Originally Posted: February 4, 1999 Last Updated: April 30, 1999 Summary One of the sample applications installed with ColdFusion Server, the Expression Evaluator, exposes the ability to read, upload, and delete files on the server. Allaire has released a patch that will limit access to the Expression Evaluator to page requests made from the machine where it is installed. As an additional measure of protection, Allaire recommends that customers not install (or remove existing) documentation, sample code, example applications and tutorials on production servers and secure access to these files on workstations. Issue A range of sample code and example applications are provided with ColdFusion Server to assist customers in learning and using the product. Among these is an application called the Expression Evaluator, which is installed in the //CFDOCS/expeval/ directory. The Expression Evaluator lets users process expressions such as 1 + 1 to see how ColdFusion expression evaluation works. Used normally, the application is restricted to access from the local machine based on the 127.0.0.1 IP address. However, some pages in the Expression Evaluator can be accessed directly, exposing the ability to read and delete files anywhere on the server where the evaluator is installed. Additionally, files can be uploaded to the server, including executable template files. Affected Software Versions * Cold Fusion Application Server 2.0 (all editions) * Cold Fusion Application Server 3.0 (all editions) * Cold Fusion Application Server 3.1 (all editions) * ColdFusion Server 4.0 (all editions) What Allaire is Doing Allaire has released a patch that modifies the Expression Evaluator so that all the pages in the Evaluator are restricted to access from the local machine where the Expression Evaluator is installed based on the 127.0.0.1 IP address. [4]Download - ColdFusion Expression Evaluator Security Patch (Windows NT) [5]Download - ColdFusion Expression Evaluator Security Patch (Solaris) Additionally, the [6]ColdFusion Server 4.0.1 update, available from the Allaire site as of April 9, 1999, includes the security patch. [7]ColdFusion 4.0.1 updates What Customers Should Do Customers should run the patch on all of their systems where the Expression Evaluator is installed. Furthermore, we recommend that customers remove (or not install in the first place) all documentation, sample code, example applications, and tutorials from production servers (e.g. servers accessible by end users via the Internet, intranets or extranets). The CFDOCS directory should be secured on developer workstations. The examples that are installed with ColdFusion are installed in the CFDOCS directory, which is normally installed in the root Web server directory. These examples can be removed by deleting the CFDOCS directory. Instead of deleting these files, the entire CFDOCS directory can be secured with standard Web server security. Revisions February 4, 1999 -- Bulletin first released. April 30, 1999 -- Bulletin updated to include 4.0.1 release and notice of file uploading vulnerability. Reporting Security Issues Allaire is committed to addressing security issues and providing customers with the information on how they can protect themselves. If you identify what you believe may be a security issue with an Allaire product, please send an email to secure@allaire.com. We will work to appropriately address and communicate the issue. Receiving Security Bulletins When Allaire becomes aware of a security issue that we believe significantly affects our products or customers, we will notify customers when appropriate. Typically this notification will be in the form of a security bulletin explaining the issue and the response. Allaire customers who would like to receive notification of new security bulletins when they are released can sign up for our security notification service. For additional information on security issues at Allaire, please visit the Security Zone at: [8]http://www.allaire.com/security THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ALLAIRE IN THIS BULLETIN IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. ALLAIRE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ALLAIRE CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF ALLAIRE CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. 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