CVE-2019-8083 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5, 6.4 and 6.3 have a cross site scripting vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to sensitive information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2019
Adobe Experience Manager suffers from a cross site scripting vulnerability that affects versions 6.5, 6.4, and 6.3, representing a critical security flaw that enables attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the AEM framework, particularly in how it processes user-supplied data in various components and interfaces. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious javascript code through carefully crafted inputs that are then rendered on web pages without proper sanitization. The vulnerability exists because AEM fails to adequately escape special characters and validate data integrity before displaying user content, creating an environment where malicious scripts can execute with the privileges of the authenticated user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized data access. When exploited successfully, the XSS vulnerability allows attackers to access sensitive information such as user session cookies, personal data, and administrative credentials stored within the browser context. This represents a significant threat to organizations using AEM as their digital experience platform since it could compromise the entire content management ecosystem. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where AEM is used for managing sensitive corporate content, customer data, and business-critical digital assets. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions, modify content, or exfiltrate confidential information through techniques such as cookie theft, form hijacking, or redirecting users to malicious sites.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers script injection attacks, and T1566 which addresses phishing with malicious content delivery. The attack surface is broad since AEM's web interface and various content management features provide multiple entry points for exploitation. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms, output encoding, and Content Security Policy headers as immediate mitigations. Security patches released by Adobe address this vulnerability through improved sanitization routines and enhanced validation controls within the affected versions. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, regular security assessments, and user awareness training can significantly reduce the risk of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and proper input/output handling in enterprise content management systems to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive digital assets and maintain the integrity of web applications.