CVE-2019-16467 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, and 6.0 have a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to sensitive information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
Adobe Experience Manager suffers from a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects multiple versions including 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, and 6.0. This security flaw resides in the application's handling of user input within HTTP response headers, specifically in the way the system processes and returns user-supplied data without proper sanitization. The vulnerability manifests when maliciously crafted input is reflected back to users through web responses, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts. The technical implementation fails to properly encode or escape user-controllable parameters that are subsequently rendered in web pages, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted HTTP requests.
The operational impact of this reflected XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to access sensitive information stored within the application's session or user context. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or extract confidential data from the AEM environment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. Security researchers have identified that this flaw can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious links sent via email or social engineering campaigns that direct users to specifically crafted URLs containing malicious payloads.
The implications of this vulnerability within enterprise environments are particularly concerning as Adobe Experience Manager is widely deployed for content management and digital experience platforms. Organizations using these affected versions face potential exposure to credential theft, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers need only convince users to click on malicious links rather than requiring persistent exploitation mechanisms. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in targeted attacks where social engineering plays a significant role. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected versions, implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and monitoring for suspicious user activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns.