CVE-2022-30677 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2022
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.13.0 (and earlier) is affected by a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. If an attacker is able to convince a victim to visit a URL referencing a vulnerable page, malicious JavaScript content may be executed within the context of the victim's browser. Exploitation of this issue requires low-privilege access to AEM.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2025
Adobe Experience Manager version 6.5.13.0 and earlier contains a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this content management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as reflected XSS where malicious script code is embedded in URLs and executed when users navigate to those malicious links. The vulnerability exists within the AEM application's handling of user input parameters that are reflected back to the browser without proper sanitization or encoding, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests when AEM processes HTTP request parameters that are subsequently echoed back to the user's browser without adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by an authenticated user, will execute within the victim's browser context with the privileges of that user. This reflected nature means that the malicious code does not need to be stored on the server but is instead delivered through the URL itself, making it particularly dangerous as it can be easily distributed via email, instant messaging, or other communication channels. The vulnerability requires only low-privilege access to AEM, meaning that even users with minimal administrative rights can potentially exploit this weakness to compromise the security of the entire system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the victim's browser session. These activities include but are not limited to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the AEM environment. The reflected XSS vulnerability can be leveraged to steal session cookies, which allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive content management features. Additionally, this vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, potentially enabling lateral movement within the organization's network infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that AEM is commonly used for managing sensitive corporate content, user data, and business-critical applications.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager versions that contain the necessary security patches. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase to prevent reflected XSS attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies and web application firewalls to provide additional layers of protection against such attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the AEM environment. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 (Account Access Removal) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) through the potential for credential theft and network-based exploitation. Organizations should also implement user education programs to raise awareness about phishing attacks that could leverage this vulnerability, as social engineering remains a critical component in successful exploitation attempts.