ColdFusion users should be aware that there were updates released yesterday (Oct 19 2021) to the long-term support (LTS) versions of Oracle Java, versions 8, 11, and 17. To be clear, Java 11 is the LTS version currently supported by CF2021 and CF2018.

For more on the newest JVM updates, see the Oracle technotes:

• Release notes for Java 11.0.13 (for CF2021 and 2018, and older CF versions supporting Java 11)
• Release notes for Java 8.0_311 (for CF2016 and older versions supporting Java 8)
• Release notes for Java 17.0.1 (not yet formally supported for use with Adobe ColdFusion)

These updates, like most JVM updates, include security-related fixes.

For some, that’s all they need to hear. They want to resolve any security concerns, they accept that there may be impacts due to those or other bug fixes, and they know to test things in other than production first. They also know how to update CF to use the new JVM, and that they should keep up-to-date on the JVM CF uses, etc.

Other folks may want (or need) to know a lot (or perhaps just a bit) more.

For that, see a post I did on my own blog with more info related to the last JVM update, and pointers to still more I’ve written about past Java updates. I also explain there how I can assist you directly in applying the updates, if that may be helpful.

Also, note that the Adobe downloads page offering Java installers has indeed been updated to offer these latest JVM versions. In the past, there has been a lag of days. Thanks for avoiding that this time, Adobe.

As for Java 17, while that is now an official “long-term support” (LTS) release of Java, ColdFusion does not yet currently formally support it. Such support can be expected in an update to be release by Adobe, perhaps in coming months, at least for CF2021 and hopefully also for CF2018 (still supported. CF2016 got its last update in March 2021.)

Just like it’s important to keep your CF version updated, it’s often just as important (for security reasons, bug fixes) to keep up-to-date on the JVM that your CF is using. Think of it like flossing, or changing your engine oil. Again, for more info see the post on my own web site, indicated above.