CVE-2023-48469 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 6.5.18 and earlier versions contain a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability classified as DOM-based XSS that poses significant security risks to organizations relying on this content management platform. This vulnerability exists within the web application's client-side processing mechanisms where user input is improperly handled during DOM manipulation operations. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context when they navigate to a specially crafted URL containing the malicious payload. The vulnerability specifically affects the way the application processes and renders user-provided data within the Document Object Model, creating an execution environment where attacker-controlled scripts can run with the privileges of the authenticated user.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a low-privileged attacker to successfully trick a victim into visiting a maliciously crafted URL that contains the XSS payload. This type of attack leverages social engineering techniques where the attacker might send phishing emails or manipulate links within trusted environments to deliver the malicious content. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script is executed as part of the page's dynamic content rendering process rather than being reflected in HTTP response headers or server-side parameters. This makes detection and prevention more challenging as the attack vector operates entirely within the browser's client-side execution environment. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications.
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 session. Attackers could potentially steal session cookies, modify page content, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. The implications are particularly severe for Adobe Experience Manager environments where users may have administrative privileges or access to sensitive content management features. Organizations using these older versions face increased risk of data breaches, unauthorized content manipulation, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can remain active as long as the affected application continues to process user input without proper sanitization.
Security mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Adobe Experience Manager installations to version 6.5.19 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being processed within the application's DOM. Web Application Firewall configurations should be enhanced to detect and block suspicious patterns in URL parameters and user input. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators and end users can help reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that leverage this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1531 which covers "Account Access Token Manipulation" and T1203 which deals with "Exploitation for Client Execution", highlighting the need for layered defensive approaches. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader application ecosystem and ensure that proper security controls are in place to protect against future exploitation attempts.