CVE-2023-48453 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 presents a significant security weakness through CVE-2023-48453, which manifests as a DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability affecting versions 6.5.18 and earlier. This flaw operates within the web application's client-side execution environment, specifically targeting how the application processes and renders user input in the document object model. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of parameters passed through URL query strings or other client-side input mechanisms that are subsequently consumed by JavaScript code without proper validation or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with a means to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser context. This allows for potentially devastating consequences including credential theft, session manipulation, data exfiltration, and the potential for privilege escalation within the application's interface. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability means that malicious payloads can be embedded directly within URL parameters, making exploitation particularly stealthy and difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that appear legitimate to users, leveraging social engineering tactics to convince victims to click through to compromised pages.
Security researchers categorize this vulnerability under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, with the DOM-based variant representing a subset of this broader category that focuses on client-side script execution. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.18 and earlier versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the application's input handling mechanisms that fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied data before it is processed by client-side JavaScript functions. This weakness creates a persistent attack surface that can be exploited across multiple user sessions and interactions with the application's interface.
Organizations utilizing affected Adobe Experience Manager versions should prioritize immediate remediation through official security patches provided by Adobe, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a straightforward path to executing malicious code within user contexts. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive input validation at both client and server levels, implementation of Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and regular security assessments of application interfaces to identify similar vulnerabilities. Network monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect anomalous URL patterns and parameter combinations that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying URL authenticity and avoiding suspicious links, particularly in environments where privileged users interact with the application's administrative interfaces. The vulnerability represents a critical risk to enterprise security infrastructure and requires immediate attention to prevent potential data breaches or unauthorized access to sensitive organizational information.