CVE-2023-48484 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 cross-site scripting vulnerability classified as DOM-based XSS that poses significant security risks to organizations utilizing this content management platform. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw exists in the way the application processes user input within the DOM structure, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction to exploit, as attackers only need to convince victims to visit a specially crafted URL containing malicious content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the AEM interface. When users navigate to specific pages within the vulnerable application, the DOM-based XSS occurs because the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before rendering it within the browser environment. This allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code through parameters or URL components that are then executed in the victim's browser session. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be delivered through simple URL manipulation without requiring complex exploitation techniques or elevated privileges.
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 can potentially steal session cookies, hijack user accounts, access sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. The low-privileged nature of the attack means that even users with minimal access rights can leverage this vulnerability to compromise the security of the entire system. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers "Run-time Application Blockade" and T1059.007 which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" as attackers can leverage the XSS to execute JavaScript payloads that can further compromise the system.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary mitigation involves upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.19 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional barrier against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Web Application Firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious URL patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in custom extensions or third-party components integrated with the AEM platform. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of user education and awareness programs to help prevent social engineering attacks that could lead to exploitation.