CVE-2023-48446 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 versions 6.5.18 and earlier contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability classified as DOM-based XSS that poses significant security risks to organizations relying on this content management platform. This vulnerability exists within the application's handling of user input and URL parameters, creating an attack vector where malicious scripts can be injected and executed within the victim's browser context. The flaw specifically affects the DOM manipulation functions that process URLs and parameters without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that exploit this weakness when visited by unsuspecting users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of input parameters within the AEM interface. When users navigate to specific URLs that contain crafted malicious payloads, the application's JavaScript code processes these inputs directly without adequate escaping or validation mechanisms. This creates a persistent threat where the malicious script executes in the context of the victim's session, potentially enabling unauthorized actions such as session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious URL, making it susceptible to social engineering attacks and phishing campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the targeted environment. Low-privileged attackers can exploit this weakness to escalate their privileges, access restricted administrative functions, or exfiltrate sensitive data from authenticated sessions. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability means that the attack occurs entirely within the browser's Document Object Model, making traditional network-based security measures ineffective at preventing exploitation. Organizations using AEM 6.5.18 and earlier versions face increased risk of data breaches, unauthorized access to content management systems, and potential compromise of sensitive customer information stored within the platform.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through official Adobe patches and updates, as the vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score indicating high severity. Organizations must implement comprehensive input validation measures and ensure all user-supplied data is properly escaped before processing. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution within the victim's browser environment. Additional mitigations include implementing strict content security policies, monitoring user access logs for suspicious URL patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar DOM-based vulnerabilities that could be exploited in similar environments.