CVE-2023-48471 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 represents a comprehensive content management platform widely deployed across enterprise environments for digital experience management. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-48471 manifests as a DOM-based cross-site scripting flaw that specifically impacts versions 6.5.18 and earlier. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes weaknesses related to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, with the DOM-based variant being particularly concerning due to its execution context within the browser's Document Object Model. The attack vector requires a low-privileged attacker to manipulate a victim into visiting a maliciously crafted URL that references a vulnerable page within the AEM interface, exploiting the platform's insufficient sanitization of user-supplied parameters that are subsequently processed within the DOM.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user-controllable input flows through the application's processing pipeline and gets rendered directly into the browser's DOM without adequate sanitization or encoding. This creates an environment where malicious JavaScript code can be executed within the victim's browser context, potentially compromising the integrity of the user session and enabling further attack vectors. The DOM-based nature means that the malicious payload is not reflected in HTTP responses but rather executed as a result of manipulating the DOM structure, making detection more challenging and potentially allowing for more sophisticated attack techniques. The vulnerability specifically affects the AEM's user interface components where parameters are not properly validated or encoded before being used in DOM operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a foothold within the victim's browser session, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or privilege escalation within the AEM environment. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive content management features, manipulate content, or exfiltrate data from the platform. The low privilege requirement for exploitation means that even limited user accounts could potentially compromise the security posture of the entire AEM instance, particularly when considering that AEM is often used to manage sensitive corporate information and digital assets. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on modifying existing programs, and could potentially enable additional techniques such as credential access through session manipulation.
Organizations utilizing affected AEM versions should prioritize immediate remediation through official Adobe security patches and updates. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive review of all user-supplied input handling within AEM interfaces, implementation of robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deployment of web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any custom AEM extensions that might be susceptible to similar DOM-based XSS issues. Additionally, implementing proper security headers including Content Security Policy directives can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against potential exploitation attempts. Regular security monitoring and user education about suspicious URL navigation practices remain essential components of a comprehensive security posture to prevent successful exploitation of this vulnerability.