CVE-2022-42367 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2022
Adobe Experience Manager version 6.5.14 (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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2022
Adobe Experience Manager version 6.5.14 and earlier versions contain 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 scripts are embedded in URLs and executed when users navigate to compromised pages. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied input within HTTP request parameters that are directly reflected back to the user's browser without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Adobe Experience Manager framework. When users access specific URLs containing malicious payloads, the application fails to adequately sanitize the input parameters before returning them to the browser. This allows attackers to craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by unsuspecting victims, execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser context. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script is not stored on the server but rather injected through the request itself, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely heavily on user interaction and dynamic content rendering.
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. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even escalate privileges within the application environment. The severity is amplified by the fact that Adobe Experience Manager is commonly used for enterprise content management, making it a valuable target for cybercriminals seeking to compromise sensitive organizational data. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links, and can facilitate further exploitation through techniques such as credential theft and privilege escalation.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Adobe Experience Manager version 6.5.15 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application code can provide defense-in-depth measures. Web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious URL patterns, and security awareness training should be conducted to help users recognize potentially malicious links. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security controls, as reflected in industry best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments to identify any other potentially vulnerable applications within their environment that may share similar architectural flaws.