CVE-2017-3067 in Experience Manager Forms
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Experience Manager Forms versions 6.2, 6.1, 6.0 have an information disclosure vulnerability resulting from abuse of the pre-population service in AEM Forms.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2020
Adobe Experience Manager Forms versions 6.2, 6.1, and 6.0 contain an information disclosure vulnerability that stems from improper handling of the pre-population service within the AEM Forms component. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with specific privileges to access sensitive data that should otherwise be restricted. The flaw exists in the way the system processes pre-population requests, which are typically used to populate forms with initial data values before user interaction begins. When exploited, the vulnerability enables unauthorized access to internal system information, user data, and potentially sensitive configuration details that are not properly protected by access controls. The vulnerability falls under CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure, and represents a significant security risk in enterprise content management environments where AEM Forms processes confidential business data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the pre-population service's failure to properly validate input parameters and enforce access restrictions during form data processing. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious requests that bypass normal access controls, potentially gaining insight into system internals, user credentials, or business-critical information. The attack typically requires an authenticated user account with appropriate permissions to access the forms service, though the exact privilege requirements may vary based on the specific AEM Forms configuration. This vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and inadequate access control enforcement within the AEM Forms framework, creating a pathway for information leakage that could be exploited to gain further insights into the system architecture and potentially facilitate more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a reconnaissance tool for attackers planning more extensive breaches. Organizations using affected AEM Forms versions may experience unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, internal system configurations, and potentially intellectual property stored within the AEM environment. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions indicates a systemic issue within the AEM Forms architecture that affects organizations across different deployment scenarios. This information disclosure can lead to compliance violations, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage when sensitive data is exposed to unauthorized parties. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate system functionality to achieve unauthorized access, making detection more challenging and potentially allowing attackers to remain undetected while harvesting valuable information.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches and updates to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing strict access controls for the pre-population service, monitoring for unusual access patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of AEM Forms configurations. Additional defensive measures should involve network segmentation to limit access to AEM Forms components, implementing robust authentication mechanisms, and establishing comprehensive logging and monitoring for pre-population service requests. Security teams should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect misconfigurations related to this vulnerability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and reconnaissance, potentially enabling later stages of attack such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the compromised environment. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in enterprise content management systems.