CVE-2023-48445 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2023
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 and earlier are affected by a Cross-site Scripting (DOM-based XSS) vulnerability. If a low-privileged 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 • 01/04/2024
Adobe Experience Manager suffers from a DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects versions 6.5.18 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in the content management platform. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's javascript execution pathways, allowing malicious actors to inject persistent script payloads that execute in the victim's browser context. The flaw specifically manifests when user-supplied input is improperly handled during DOM manipulation operations, creating an attack surface where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable code rather than benign text. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires minimal user interaction to exploit, merely needing the victim to click on a maliciously crafted URL that references a vulnerable page within the AEM interface. This makes it highly suitable for phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks where attackers can leverage the trust relationship between users and the application to deliver malicious payloads.
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, hijack user accounts, access sensitive data, and perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script executes in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially allowing attackers to bypass traditional security controls that operate at the network or server level. This makes the attack particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where AEM is used for managing sensitive corporate content and user data. The vulnerability can also be exploited to create persistent backdoors within the application's interface, enabling long-term access to the system and potentially leading to further compromise of the underlying infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's javascript codebase. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.19 or later, which contain patches addressing this specific vulnerability. The remediation process involves implementing proper Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, enabling strict input sanitization for all user-supplied data, and implementing proper javascript escaping mechanisms for DOM manipulation operations. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar patterns in custom applications built on top of AEM, as the vulnerability may exist in custom components or extensions. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious URL patterns can provide additional layers of defense. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and follows ATT&CK techniques such as T1566 for social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to reduce the risk of successful exploitation through phishing campaigns, as the vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction with malicious links. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential similar vulnerabilities in the broader application ecosystem.