How to Secure ColdFusion 2025

10 steps from fresh install to production-ready

Last updated: November 28, 202518 min read

This is the checklist we follow for every ColdFusion deployment. Work through these 10 steps in order—each builds on the previous. Budget about 3 hours for a thorough job, less if your environment is straightforward.

Security Hardening Overview

This guide covers essential security hardening steps for ColdFusion 2025, following a "secure by default, measure everything" philosophy. Each step builds upon the previous to create a comprehensive security baseline.

Required Tools:

Adobe ColdFusion 2025 Lockdown Guide
ColdFusion Package Manager (cfpm)
ColdFusion Administrator Access
System Administrator Access

Step 1

Update All Components

Before hardening, ensure all components are current with security patches:

ColdFusion Updates: Apply the latest cumulative update from Adobe's update page
JDK Patches: Update to the latest JDK 17 patch release
Operating System: Apply all OS security updates
Web Server: Update Apache, IIS, or nginx to current versions

# Check current ColdFusion version
/opt/coldfusion2025/cfusion/bin/cfpm version

Step 2

Run the Lockdown Guide

Execute the Adobe ColdFusion 2025 Lockdown Guide to apply automated security configurations:

Download: Get the ColdFusion 2025 Lockdown Guide
Backup: Create full backup before running lockdown
Execute: Run the lockdown script appropriate for your OS
Review: Examine lockdown log for any issues or warnings
Test: Verify application functionality after lockdown

Important: Always test the lockdown guide in a staging environment before applying to production.

Step 3

Disable Unused Services

Minimize attack surface by removing unnecessary ColdFusion packages:

List Packages: View installed packages with cfpm list
Remove Unused: Uninstall packages your application doesn't use
Common Removals: PDFG services, SOLR, MongoDB (if not needed)
Disable Services: Turn off unused scheduled tasks and event gateways

# List installed packages
cfpm list

# Remove unused package
cfpm uninstall [package-name]

See the CFPM Package Management Guide for detailed instructions.

Step 4

Secure Administrator Access

Harden access to the ColdFusion Administrator:

Change Admin URL: Modify default /CFIDE/administrator path
IP Restrictions: Limit admin access to specific IP addresses
Strong Passwords: Use complex passwords (16+ characters, mixed case, symbols)
Multi-Factor Auth: Implement MFA for admin access
Separate Admin User: Create dedicated admin account (don't use default)
Session Timeout: Set short admin session timeout (15-30 minutes)

Best Practice: Access admin only via VPN or bastion host, never directly from internet.

Step 5

Configure Web Server Connectors

Properly secure web server connector configuration:

Block Direct Tomcat: Prevent direct access to Tomcat port (8500)
Connector Security: Use secret key for connector authentication
AJP Protocol: Secure AJP connector or use HTTP connector
Firewall Rules: Only allow web server to communicate with Tomcat
SSL/TLS: Encrypt connector traffic if on different hosts

# Block direct Tomcat access (iptables example)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8500 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8500 -s 127.0.0.1 -j ACCEPT

See the Web Server Connectors Guide for detailed configuration.

Step 6

Harden Session Management

Configure secure session handling:

Secure Cookies: Enable Secure flag for HTTPS-only transmission
HttpOnly Flag: Enable HttpOnly to prevent XSS cookie theft
SameSite: Set SameSite=Strict or Lax for CSRF protection
UUID Identifiers: Use UUID session IDs (enabled by default)
Session Timeout: Set appropriate timeout (typically 30-60 minutes)
Rotation: Regenerate session ID after login

<!--- In Application.cfc --->
this.sessionManagement = true;
this.sessionTimeout = createTimeSpan(0,0,30,0);
this.setClientCookies = true;
this.sessionCookie.httpOnly = true;
this.sessionCookie.secure = true;
this.sessionCookie.sameSite = "Strict";

Step 7

Implement Security Headers

Configure HTTP security headers to protect against common attacks:

Content-Security-Policy: Restrict resource loading sources
X-Frame-Options: Prevent clickjacking (DENY or SAMEORIGIN)
X-Content-Type-Options: Prevent MIME-sniffing (nosniff)
Strict-Transport-Security: Enforce HTTPS (HSTS)
X-XSS-Protection: Enable browser XSS filtering
Referrer-Policy: Control referrer information

<!--- In Application.cfc onRequestStart --->
cfheader(name="X-Frame-Options", value="SAMEORIGIN");
cfheader(name="X-Content-Type-Options", value="nosniff");
cfheader(name="Strict-Transport-Security", value="max-age=31536000");

Step 8

Enable Security Monitoring

Implement comprehensive security monitoring and logging:

Enable Logging: Configure detailed security event logging
Failed Login Tracking: Monitor and alert on failed admin logins
Intrusion Detection: Implement IDS/IPS solutions
Log Analysis: Use SIEM tools for log aggregation and analysis
Alerting: Set up alerts for suspicious patterns
Regular Audits: Schedule security audits and reviews

See the Logging & Observability Guide for monitoring setup.

Step 9

Secure File System Permissions

Set appropriate file system permissions:

ColdFusion Directory: Owned by ColdFusion service account
Web Root: Read-only for ColdFusion, no write access
Temp Directories: Isolated with appropriate permissions
Log Files: Writable only by ColdFusion service
Upload Directories: Outside web root, execute permissions disabled
Configuration Files: Read-only, restricted access

# Linux example - set ColdFusion directory ownership
chown -R coldfusion:coldfusion /opt/coldfusion2025
chmod -R 750 /opt/coldfusion2025/cfusion/lib

Step 10

Validate and Test

Verify all security configurations before production deployment:

Security Scan: Run vulnerability scanner (Nessus, Qualys, etc.)
Penetration Testing: Perform application security testing
Configuration Review: Double-check all hardening settings
Functional Testing: Ensure application works correctly
Performance Testing: Verify no performance degradation
Documentation: Document all security configurations

Validation Checklist: Create a security checklist and verify each item is properly configured before go-live.

Ongoing Security Maintenance

Security is not a one-time task. Maintain your ColdFusion security posture through:

Regular security updates and patches
Continuous monitoring and log review
Quarterly security audits
Annual penetration testing
Security awareness training for development team
Incident response planning and testing

Related Security Guides

Want a second opinion?

We do professional security assessments and penetration testing for ColdFusion environments. If you want someone experienced to validate your hardening work—or find what you might have missed—let's talk.