CVE-2017-2969 in Campaign
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Campaign versions 16.4 Build 8724 and earlier have a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2020
Adobe Campaign versions 16.4 Build 8724 and earlier contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web-based interface of the marketing automation platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which occurs when an application incorporates untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The flaw specifically affects the user interface components that handle input processing and rendering of user-supplied content within the campaign management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user inputs passed through various web forms and administrative interfaces. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious javascript code through input fields that are subsequently rendered in the browser without appropriate encoding or filtering. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to properly escape or validate data before it is processed and displayed to authenticated users, creating a persistent vector for malicious code execution within the context of the victim's browser session.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to perform unauthorized actions within the Adobe Campaign environment. An attacker with access to the application could execute arbitrary javascript code in the browser of authenticated users, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation within the campaign management system. The vulnerability affects both administrative and regular user accounts, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the platform. This weakness creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Adobe Campaign for customer data management and marketing automation, as it could allow unauthorized access to sensitive campaign data and user information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of Adobe Campaign to versions 16.4 Build 8725 or later, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation at multiple layers, content security policies, and regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting this specific XSS vulnerability. This case exemplifies how seemingly minor input validation flaws can create significant security risks in enterprise applications, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and regular vulnerability assessments in web-based platforms.