CVE-2019-8085 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5, 6.4, 6.3 and 6.2 have a reflected 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 reflected cross site scripting vulnerability that affects versions 6.5, 6.4, 6.3, and 6.2. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before reflecting it back in HTTP responses, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability exists in the way AEM processes and returns user-supplied parameters without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms.
The operational impact of this reflected XSS vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of a victim's browser session. This could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The vulnerability particularly affects AEM's web interfaces and administrative panels where user input is processed and displayed. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by an unsuspecting user, would execute the malicious code in the victim's browser. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions and administrative functions.
Successful exploitation of CVE-2019-8085 could result in unauthorized access to sensitive information including user credentials, system configurations, and confidential data stored within the AEM environment. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which describes the use of malicious input to manipulate web applications and gain access to protected resources. Organizations running affected AEM versions face increased risk of data breaches, privilege escalation attacks, and potential full system compromise. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not need to maintain persistent access to the system, as each victim's browser session presents a new opportunity for exploitation. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrators and users frequently interact with the AEM web interface.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected AEM versions to the latest security releases provided by Adobe. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all web application interfaces. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution. Regular security assessments and web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and block suspicious traffic patterns. User education regarding phishing and social engineering attacks that could leverage this vulnerability is also essential. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify any potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include reviewing access controls and implementing principle of least privilege for AEM administrative functions. Regular monitoring of system logs for unusual access patterns and automated alerting for potential XSS attack attempts should be established as part of the security operations routine.