CVE-2023-48482 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 digital experience platform that serves as a cornerstone for enterprise web content management and digital asset handling. The platform's architecture includes multiple administrative interfaces and user-facing components that process user input through various pathways. When examining the vulnerability within this context, it becomes evident that the system's handling of user-provided data in specific DOM elements creates an attack surface that adversaries can exploit. The vulnerability manifests in how the application processes certain URL parameters or input fields that are subsequently rendered within the browser's Document Object Model, creating a condition where malicious script execution can occur without proper sanitization or validation.
The technical flaw in CVE-2023-48482 specifically involves a DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability that operates within the client-side rendering environment of Adobe Experience Manager. This type of vulnerability occurs when the application's JavaScript code dynamically incorporates user-supplied data into the DOM structure without adequate sanitization or encoding. The flaw exists in the way the system processes URL parameters or other input sources that are directly manipulated within the browser context. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when visited by an authenticated user with sufficient privileges, execute within the victim's browser session. This DOM-based variant is particularly concerning because it doesn't require server-side processing of malicious input, instead exploiting how the client-side JavaScript handles and renders user-provided content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, steal session tokens, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. A low-privileged attacker who successfully convinces a victim to visit a maliciously crafted URL can effectively bypass traditional security controls that rely on user authentication and authorization. The vulnerability's exploitation requires social engineering to get a victim to click a malicious link, but once executed, it can lead to complete compromise of the user's session within the AEM environment. This risk is particularly elevated in enterprise environments where AEM administrators may have extensive permissions and access to sensitive content management systems, making the potential impact of such an attack significant for organizations relying on the platform for their digital presence and content management operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data that flows into DOM elements. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all URL parameters and user input before they are processed or rendered within the browser context, implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and conducting thorough code reviews to identify all potential DOM-based XSS vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing user awareness training to prevent successful social engineering attacks that exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers the use of malicious scripts in web applications. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the AEM platform and its associated web applications, while maintaining up-to-date patches and monitoring for any additional vulnerabilities that may affect the system's overall security posture.