CVE-2020-9651 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5 and earlier have a cross-site scripting (reflected) vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary javascript execution in the browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2020
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5 and earlier contain a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on this content management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as reflected XSS, where malicious scripts are injected through user input that is immediately reflected back to the browser without proper sanitization or encoding. The vulnerability exists in the way the application processes and renders user-supplied input in HTTP response headers or query parameters, creating an attack surface where an attacker can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by a victim, execute arbitrary javascript code within the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through various vectors including email links, social engineering campaigns, or compromised websites that redirect users to malicious URLs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the affected application. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user sessions, modify application behavior, redirect users to malicious sites, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is executed immediately when a user clicks a crafted link, making it particularly effective for phishing attacks and social engineering campaigns. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment and T1566.002 - Phishing: Spearphishing Link, as attackers can use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through carefully crafted URLs that appear legitimate to end users.
Organizations using Adobe Experience Manager 6.5 and earlier versions face substantial risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where users have administrative privileges or access to sensitive data. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it attractive to threat actors ranging from script kiddies to sophisticated attackers. The attack surface is broad since AEM applications often handle user input through various interfaces including search functions, contact forms, and URL parameters used for navigation. Security teams should consider implementing comprehensive monitoring for suspicious user behavior, unusual URL patterns, and unexpected script execution within the browser context. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices, which are fundamental security controls that should be implemented at multiple layers of the application architecture. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official Adobe security patches and consider implementing additional security measures such as content security policies, web application firewalls, and user education programs to reduce the overall risk exposure.