Adobe ColdFusion Penetration Testing
Adobe ColdFusion ships an administrator interface and remote development tools that stay safe only when locked down. We test administrator exposure, datasource permissions and the CFML code your team wrote. CREST-certified testers, fixed price from £3,480 for a 3-day single-framework scope, quoted within 24 hours.
- Unlimited retesting
- Unlimited pre-retesting
- No hidden fees
“I would highly recommend EJN Labs to any organisation seeking reliable, detailed, and well-managed penetration testing services, particularly for government or enterprise-level projects.”
“There wasn’t another company we could find that could deliver what we needed in the timeframe we needed. The client loved it, and we got instant ROI from the engagement.”
Adobe ships a Secure Profile and IP allow-listing for the ColdFusion Administrator and CFIDE paths, plus a password requirement for Remote Development Services. We test whether your instance actually has these controls applied, not just installed.
Why ColdFusion’s admin interface is the attack surface that matters
The ColdFusion Administrator controls every datasource, mapping and server setting on the instance, and Adobe’s own security documentation describes a Secure Profile that restricts CFIDE/administrator, CFIDE/adminapi and the other internal CFIDE paths to a comma-separated list of allowed IP addresses. We test whether that allow-list is actually configured on your instance, and whether the paths it is meant to cover are reachable from outside it.
Sandbox security has historically let an administrator restrict which datasources, CF tags and file system paths the CFML code in a given directory is allowed to use, though Adobe’s own documentation now lists it as deprecated from the ColdFusion 2025 release onward. We test datasource and file-system scoping directly against what each application on the instance actually needs, whichever mechanism your release still enforces it with, rather than assuming the defaults a fresh install grants are correct.
Remote Development Services lets a developer edit CFML pages remotely once given the RDS password, and Adobe’s own security guidance treats it as a control you actively enable and protect rather than one that belongs open on a production server. Alongside that, we check whether cfquery calls use cfqueryparam consistently, and whether the instance is running a ColdFusion release still covered by Adobe’s regular Security Bulletins rather than one that stopped receiving fixes.
SCOPE
What we pen test on a ColdFusion application
Administrator and CFIDE Path Exposure
The ColdFusion Administrator and the CFIDE paths beneath it, including CFIDE/administrator and CFIDE/adminapi, control every datasource and server setting on the instance. We test whether these paths are reachable from outside the IP allow-list your Secure Profile is meant to enforce.
Secure Profile IP Restrictions
Adobe’s own security documentation describes a Secure Profile that restricts CFIDE/main, CFIDE/administrator, CFIDE/adminapi, CFIDE/componentutils, CFIDE/wizards and CFIDE/servermanager to an allowed list of IP addresses. We test whether that allow-list actually matches the IPs your team relies on, and whether the restriction was ever applied at all.
Sandbox Security and Datasource Permissions
Sandbox security has historically let an administrator restrict which datasources, CF tags and file system paths the CFML code in a given directory is allowed to use, though Adobe now lists it as deprecated from ColdFusion 2025 onward. We test whether every application on the instance is scoped to the datasource and tag permissions it actually needs, on whichever mechanism your release supports, rather than left at the defaults a fresh install grants.
File Upload Handling with cffile
cffile handles every file upload and file system operation in a ColdFusion application, from an upload form to a scheduled export. We test whether uploaded file type, size and destination path are validated before cffile writes them to disk, and whether an uploaded file can be executed once it lands there.
SQL Injection Protection via cfqueryparam
Adobe’s own documentation states that cfqueryparam prevents SQL injection by binding user-supplied values as data rather than executable SQL, validating them against the CFSQLType you declare. We test every cfquery in scope for a value built through string concatenation instead of cfqueryparam.
Custom CFML Application Logic
Beyond the platform’s own settings, the CFML your team wrote decides what a session can see and change, from custom authentication checks to CFC methods marked remote. We test that application logic directly, including any component method callable without the login your CFML assumes is enforced elsewhere.
Remote Development Services (RDS)
RDS lets a developer edit CFML pages remotely once given the RDS password, and Adobe’s own security guidance treats it as a control you actively enable and protect rather than one that belongs open on a production server. We check whether RDS is reachable from outside your network and, where it must stay on, whether its password is unique to the instance.
Supported Version and Security Bulletin Coverage
Adobe publishes regular Security Bulletins and hotfixes for the ColdFusion releases it currently supports, and an instance running an older, unsupported major version stops receiving them. We identify the exact release and update level running in your environment and check it against Adobe’s current support position.
Java Integration and JVM Surface
ColdFusion runs on a Java runtime and CFML code can call Java classes and libraries directly, so a custom component that reaches into a shared Java or Spring backend carries that backend’s own risk into the ColdFusion application. Where that integration goes beyond a single CFML app, our Java and Spring penetration testing covers the wider Java surface.
Instance Surface Beyond a Single Application
Where a ColdFusion instance serves several applications behind one Administrator and one set of datasources, a permission gap in one application can expose data that belongs to another. Our wider web application penetration testing covers that shared instance if more than one CFML application needs testing together.
OUR PROCESS
Adobe ColdFusion Penetration Testing: From Scope to Attestation
Scope and Access
We agree the URLs, environments and any Administrator or RDS access we need, plus which applications on a shared ColdFusion instance are in or out of scope.
Configuration and Permission Mapping
We map the Secure Profile, CFIDE restrictions, sandbox security and datasource permissions actually applied to the instance against what Adobe’s lockdown guidance recommends.
Manual Testing
A CREST-certified tester manually exploits Administrator and CFIDE exposure, RDS access, cfqueryparam gaps and custom CFML application logic, chaining findings where they compound.
Attestation and Retest
You get a technical report with CVSS scores and reproduction steps, a walkthrough call, a free retest once fixes are deployed, and an attestation letter for auditors.
CREDENTIALS
Verified Accreditations Auditors Accept
Every credential below is independently verifiable. UK procurement teams, FCA supervisors, ISO 27001 / SOC 2 auditors, and cyber insurance underwriters all recognise these standards.
GET YOUR QUOTE
Get a CREST ColdFusion pen test quote in 24 hours
A fixed-price quote back in one business day, from a named CREST assessor. No sales pipeline, no chasing.
- CREST and IASME accredited. Testing your auditors and clients already recognise.
- Fast-track testing within 24 hours where required. Free retest of every fix included.
- Live findings via your client portal, not a four-week PDF.
- Fixed price from £3,500 for a single-role, single-app scope, agreed up front. Most engagements run £5,000 and up. No day-rate surprises.
Dan WilcocksonFounder, CelloriUnder NDA Further named references available on a scoping call.
- We reply within one business day with a fixed-price quote from a named CREST assessor.
- You approve the scope and we book a start date, usually within 24 hours.
- Live findings land in your client portal as we test, with a free retest of every fix.
Get your fixed pen test quote in 24 hours
Quote request received
We will reply within one business day with your fixed-price quote from a named CREST assessor.
Your data stays with us. No newsletter signup.
or book a 20-min scoping call first
We reply within one business day. Your data stays with us. No newsletter signup.
COMPLIANCE READY
Reports Mapped to Every Framework
Findings are written so your team can reference the report against each framework without translation work.
ISO 27001:2022
Annex A.8.8 management of technical vulnerabilities plus A.5.15-5.18 and A.8.2-8.5 access control validation.
SOC 2 Type I & II
CC6 logical access, CC7 system operations, CC8 change management evidence.
PCI DSS
Requirement 11.4 application penetration testing across cardholder data environments, including ecommerce penetration testing for online retail platforms.
FCA SYSC
SYSC 4.1.1R, 6.1.1R, 13 mapped to each finding for FCA-regulated firms.
UK GDPR
Article 32 effectiveness testing, customer-data security controls, ICO-acceptable evidence.
Cyber Essentials Plus
Direct certification through our IASME body status, single-vendor delivery.
PRICING
Transparent Adobe ColdFusion Penetration Testing Pricing
Pricing depends on the number of roles, integrations and environments in scope. See our pricing page for how we quote.
3 to 4 testing days
Single user role, basic CRUD application, marketing website with auth. Around 5 working days from kickoff to report.
Get a fixed quote4 to 6 testing days
Multi-role SaaS, business application with payment integration. Around 8 to 12 working days from kickoff to report.
Get a fixed quote6 to 9 testing days
Multi-tenant platform, complex authorisation matrix, integration-heavy applications. Around 15 to 20 working days from kickoff to report.
Get a fixed quoteSECTORS
Sectors We Test ColdFusion For
Sector-specific scoping for regulated UK organisations.
Fintech & FCA-Regulated
FCA SYSC, Open Banking FAPI 1.0, PSD2 SCA, payment-flow scrutiny, KYC/AML testing.
Fintech sector pageSaaS Companies
SOC 2 Type I & II evidence, multi-tenant boundaries, role escalation, customer-tenant isolation.
SaaS sector pageLaw Firms
SRA Cyber Standard, privileged data, conveyancing fraud defence, partner-tier procurement.
Law firm sector pageHealthcare
NHS DTAC, DSP Toolkit v6, UK GDPR Article 32, EHR systems, telehealth platforms.
Healthcare sector pageInsurance
FCA / PRA Operational Resilience, cyber underwriting, claims data, broker portals.
Insurance sector pagePublic Sector
CCS / G-Cloud framework, NCSC-aligned, citizen-facing services, PSN-compliance scrutiny.
Public sector pageWHY EJN LABS
What You Get From Adobe ColdFusion Penetration Testing
Six concrete differentiators competitors don’t all match.
CREST-Certified Testers, Verifiable
Every test by a CREST-certified pen tester (CRT, CCT APP, CCT INF where applicable). Verify our company status at crest-approved.org.
24-Hour Startup, Where Required
From signed scope to active testing in a single business day for incident response, audit deadlines, or regulator-driven timelines.
Live Findings, Not 4-Week PDFs
Critical issues reported during testing through your client portal. Your team remediates while testing continues.
Audit-Ready Reports
Executive summary plus full technical report with CVSS scores and explicit framework mappings (ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, FCA SYSC).
Free Retests, Standard
Verify remediation of every finding before close-out. Letter of attestation for audit submission included. Most competitors charge £1,500-£3,000 per retest.
UK-Based CREST Testers
Every engagement performed by vetted, UK-based CREST-certified testers, matched to your needs, security clearance, and compliance scope.
FAQ
Frequently Asked
What access do you need to test our ColdFusion application?
We need at least two authenticated application accounts covering every distinct permission level, plus Administrator access if the ColdFusion Administrator itself is in scope. Where RDS is enabled, we need its password as part of the same conversation about what stays in or out of scope.
Will testing touch our live data?
We test whichever environment you give us access to. If that is production, we agree exclusions upfront, such as bulk deletes and outbound emails, and we do not run destructive tests against real customer records without that agreement in writing.
How long does a ColdFusion penetration test take?
A single ColdFusion application sits in our 3-day single-framework scope, with a report typically landing around 6 to 8 working days after kickoff. An instance running several applications behind one Administrator, or with a larger custom CFML codebase, moves into a wider scope with more testing days.
Do you test self-hosted ColdFusion as well as managed hosting?
Yes. We test ColdFusion running on your own servers or in containers the same way as an instance on a managed hosting provider. The network and infrastructure-access details adjust to your hosting model, but the Administrator, CFIDE and application-level testing is the same either way.
Is the ColdFusion Administrator included in the test by default?
Yes. If Administrator or RDS access sits behind a VPN, IP allow-list or network our test team cannot reach without extra setup, tell us during scoping so we can arrange access or agree to exclude it.
What is out of scope for a single-framework ColdFusion test?
Infrastructure-level issues in the underlying server, network or cloud configuration are out of scope for this test and covered by our cloud penetration testing service instead. A separate Java or Spring backend the ColdFusion application calls into is scoped and quoted separately.
Do you need our source code?
No. Testing is black-box against the running application by default. A grey-box option, where we review the relevant CFML components, sandbox security configuration and cfqueryparam usage alongside testing, is available if you want faster or deeper coverage of specific findings.
Does Adobe have a customer penetration-testing policy for ColdFusion?
ColdFusion is self-hosted software you install and control yourself rather than a shared multi-tenant service. We confirm Adobe’s current terms, and your hosting provider’s policy where a managed provider operates the underlying server, during scoping before testing begins.
20+ CREST-accredited testing services in one place
Web, mobile, API, cloud, AI, infrastructure, red team. Pick the test that fits your environment.
Get a fixed price for your ColdFusion application
Adobe ColdFusion ships an administrator interface and remote development tools that stay safe only when locked down. We test administrator exposure, datasource permissions and the CFML code your team wrote. CREST-certified testers, fixed price from £3,480 for a 3-day single-framework scope, quoted within 24 hours.
