CVE-2023-48473 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 in web applications. The flaw exists in how the system processes user-supplied input within the DOM context, allowing malicious scripts to be injected and executed when victims navigate to compromised URLs. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction from the attacker, who only needs to convince a victim to click on a malicious link, making it a prevalent attack vector in social engineering campaigns.
The technical implementation of this DOM-based XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the Adobe Experience Manager interface. When users access certain pages that process URL parameters or other user-provided data through DOM manipulation methods, the system fails to properly escape or validate this input before incorporating it into the page's dynamic content. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled JavaScript code can be seamlessly integrated into the victim's browsing context, potentially executing with the privileges of the authenticated user. The vulnerability operates entirely within the browser's DOM without requiring server-side processing, making it particularly challenging to detect through traditional network-based security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or facilitate further exploitation within the target environment. Low-privileged attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform actions such as session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration from authenticated users who visit malicious URLs. In enterprise environments where Adobe Experience Manager serves as a primary content management system, this vulnerability could provide attackers with access to sensitive corporate content, user data, or administrative functions depending on the victim's privileges. The attack requires minimal technical expertise from the threat actor, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user awareness of web security risks may be insufficient.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Adobe's official security patches and updates for Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 and earlier. The mitigation strategy should include implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's DOM processing pathways, as recommended by the OWASP XSS Prevention Cheat Sheet. Network security controls such as web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious URL patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, security awareness training for users should emphasize the importance of verifying URLs and avoiding suspicious links, particularly in email communications or untrusted sources. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links, making comprehensive defensive measures essential for protecting against exploitation attempts.