CVE-2023-48474 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 presents a significant security weakness through CVE-2023-48474, which manifests as a DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability affecting versions 6.5.18 and earlier. This vulnerability operates within the web application's client-side processing environment where malicious scripts can be injected into the document object model through manipulated URL parameters. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data that flows into DOM manipulation functions without proper escaping or encoding mechanisms. When a victim accesses a specially crafted URL containing malicious JavaScript code, the browser executes this code within the trusted context of the legitimate AEM application, effectively bypassing traditional security boundaries that separate user input from executable code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the victim's browser environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the user, redirect victims to malicious sites, or harvest sensitive information from the application's data. The DOM-based nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload is processed entirely within the browser's DOM without requiring server-side interaction, making it particularly challenging to detect through conventional network monitoring or web application firewalls. This characteristic aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities and the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for script execution through web browsers. The vulnerability's exploitation requires social engineering to convince victims to visit malicious URLs, but once triggered, it operates with the privileges and permissions of the authenticated user.
Organizations utilizing Adobe Experience Manager must implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, starting with upgrading to versions 6.5.19 or later where the XSS vulnerability has been patched. The recommended approach includes implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution sources and employing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's DOM manipulation processes. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify other potential DOM-based XSS vulnerabilities within the application's JavaScript codebase, as the flaw may exist in other components beyond the specific vulnerable page mentioned in the CVE. Network security controls should be enhanced to monitor for suspicious URL patterns and parameter manipulation that could indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. The implementation of a robust web application firewall with advanced XSS detection capabilities becomes critical in environments where immediate patching is not feasible, while user education and awareness programs should emphasize the dangers of visiting untrusted URLs that may contain malicious payloads. Organizations should also consider implementing automatic vulnerability scanning tools that can detect and alert on DOM-based XSS patterns within their applications, ensuring that similar vulnerabilities are identified and remediated proactively across their digital infrastructure.