CVE-2023-48457 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.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2024
Adobe Experience Manager serves as a comprehensive content management platform that enables organizations to create, manage, and deliver digital experiences across multiple channels. The platform's architecture includes various administrative interfaces and web applications that handle user interactions through web-based forms and dynamic content rendering. When a vulnerable version of Adobe Experience Manager processes user input through URL parameters or web forms, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before rendering it within the browser context. This particular vulnerability manifests as a DOM-based cross-site scripting flaw that occurs when the application's JavaScript code directly incorporates user-provided data into the Document Object Model without adequate sanitization. The vulnerability affects versions 6.5.18 and earlier, indicating that the issue stems from a specific code path within the platform's client-side processing logic where input validation occurs inappropriately or insufficiently.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a low-privileged attacker to craft a malicious URL containing script payload that targets the vulnerable Adobe Experience Manager instance. When a victim with appropriate privileges accesses this crafted URL, the browser executes the malicious JavaScript code within the security context of the victim's session. This DOM-based XSS vulnerability operates at the client-side level where the malicious payload is embedded within the URL parameters or other client-side data sources that get processed by the application's JavaScript handlers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the victim's existing authenticated session within the Adobe Experience Manager environment, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive administrative functions, modify content, or escalate privileges. The attack vector specifically targets the way the application handles user input within the DOM structure, making it particularly challenging to defend against through traditional server-side input validation techniques since the malicious code executes on the client side.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on Adobe Experience Manager for content management and digital experience delivery. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions within the application, access confidential content, or manipulate the platform's administrative functions. The low privilege requirement for exploitation means that even users with minimal access rights could potentially leverage this vulnerability to compromise higher-privileged accounts. Organizations using vulnerable versions of Adobe Experience Manager face potential data breaches, content tampering, and unauthorized access to sensitive administrative interfaces. The vulnerability's presence in versions 6.5.18 and earlier suggests that the issue has been present for an extended period, potentially exposing organizations to prolonged risk without proper patch management or security monitoring.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive patch management strategies to upgrade to Adobe Experience Manager versions that address this vulnerability, as Adobe has released security updates to resolve the DOM-based XSS flaw. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their Adobe Experience Manager implementations to identify all potentially vulnerable instances and ensure that proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms are in place. The mitigation approach should include implementing content security policies that restrict script execution and monitoring for suspicious URL patterns or user behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads targeting this specific vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper user education and awareness programs can help reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that might leverage this vulnerability. This 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 browser environment, emphasizing the need for both defensive measures and proactive monitoring to prevent exploitation attempts.