CVE-2023-48467 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 DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on this content management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where malicious scripts can be injected into web applications. The flaw exists in the way the application processes user input within the document object model, creating an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms.
The vulnerability manifests when a low-privileged attacker crafts a malicious URL that, when visited by an unsuspecting victim, triggers the execution of malicious JavaScript code within the victim's browser context. This DOM-based XSS vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates directly within the browser's document object model without requiring server-side processing, making it more difficult to detect and prevent through traditional server-side input validation techniques. The attack vector relies on social engineering tactics where the attacker must convince the victim to navigate to a specifically crafted malicious URL, which then executes within the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, modifying page content, redirecting users to malicious sites, or even performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim. The low privilege requirement for the attacker means that even users with minimal access rights can potentially exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly concerning for organizations with less strict access controls. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based execution and can be leveraged as part of broader attack chains targeting web applications.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager version 6.5.19 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection. Security teams should conduct thorough testing of their AEM environments to identify any custom code or configurations that might be susceptible to similar DOM-based XSS vulnerabilities. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious URL patterns, and user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying URLs before clicking on potentially malicious links. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for proper security testing and validation of web applications, particularly in enterprise content management systems where user privileges can be leveraged to create significant security risks.