CVE-2023-48465 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 falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw exists in how the application processes user-supplied input within the DOM environment, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction to exploit, making it a significant threat to organizations relying on AEM for their digital experience management.
The technical nature of this DOM-based XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within AEM's web application framework. When users navigate to specific URLs that contain malicious payloads, the application fails to properly sanitize the input parameters before rendering them in the DOM structure. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes within the victim's browser session, potentially compromising user data and session information. The vulnerability is classified as DOM-based because the malicious script is executed in the client-side DOM rather than being reflected in HTTP responses, making it more persistent and harder to detect through traditional security measures.
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 context. Low-privileged attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, capture user credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The risk is amplified in enterprise environments where AEM is used for sensitive content management and user authentication, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to confidential data and system compromise. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1531 for credential access and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, making it a valuable vector for attackers seeking persistent access.
Organizations must implement immediate mitigations to protect against this vulnerability, including applying the latest security patches from Adobe as soon as they become available. Network segmentation and web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block suspicious URL patterns that may contain malicious payloads. Input validation should be strengthened at multiple layers including client-side and server-side validation to ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential injection points within the AEM environment, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of not visiting untrusted URLs that may contain malicious content. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for comprehensive security hygiene practices and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in web applications can create significant risks for enterprise environments.