CVE-2023-48462 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-2023-48462, 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 processing environment, specifically targeting how the application handles user input through DOM manipulation techniques. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of input parameters that are directly incorporated into the document object model without proper validation or encoding mechanisms.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires a low-privileged attacker to craft malicious URLs that, when visited by an unsuspecting victim, trigger the execution of malicious JavaScript code within the victim's browser context. This DOM-based XSS variant is particularly concerning because it leverages the application's own DOM structure to execute malicious payloads, making it more difficult to detect through traditional network-based security measures. The attack vector typically involves manipulating URL parameters or other client-side input sources that are subsequently processed by the application's JavaScript code, allowing the attacker to inject and execute arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79 which classifies cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a specific instance of DOM-based XSS as outlined in the CWE taxonomy. The attack surface is particularly broad given that AEM is commonly used for content management and web publishing, making it a frequent target for attackers seeking to compromise user sessions or exfiltrate sensitive data from authenticated user sessions.
Security professionals should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include input validation at both client and server levels, proper encoding of all user-supplied data, and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through web shells and malicious script execution. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected AEM instances, implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious URL patterns, and conduct thorough security assessments of all web applications that utilize similar DOM-based processing techniques. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious URL handling and the importance of verifying website authenticity remains crucial in preventing successful exploitation of this vulnerability.