CVE-2023-48493 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 content management and digital asset handling. The platform's architecture includes numerous administrative interfaces and content rendering components that process user inputs through various pathways. This particular vulnerability manifests within the DOM-based cross-site scripting mechanism, where the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The flaw exists in the way the system processes URL parameters and query strings within its administrative and content management interfaces, creating an attack surface where malicious input can be executed as JavaScript code within the victim's browser context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding practices within the AEM application's client-side processing logic. When users navigate to specific URLs containing crafted malicious payloads, the application's JavaScript handlers fail to adequately sanitize the input before rendering it into the page's DOM structure. This DOM-based XSS variant is particularly insidious because it does not require the malicious payload to be stored on the server, instead exploiting the client-side execution environment where the browser interprets and executes the injected script. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 6.5.18, indicating a widespread impact across the platform's user base.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on Adobe Experience Manager for their digital infrastructure. The low privilege requirement for exploitation means that attackers do not need elevated access rights to potentially compromise user sessions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the platform. The attack vector relies on social engineering to convince victims to click on malicious links, which can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potentially affect the entire content management ecosystem, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate published content or access sensitive administrative functions.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary mitigation strategy involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released for Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.19 and later versions. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies that restrict script execution and employ strict input validation at all entry points. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense in depth, though they should not be relied upon as the sole mitigation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a common attack pattern catalogued under the ATT&CK framework as T1566.200, focusing on phishing with social engineering techniques that leverage web-based vulnerabilities.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices within enterprise content management systems. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their AEM implementations to identify all potential attack vectors and ensure proper input sanitization throughout the application's architecture. Regular security monitoring and user education programs become essential components of the overall security posture, particularly when dealing with platforms that handle sensitive organizational data and provide extensive administrative capabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for robust security practices in complex enterprise applications where user interaction with dynamic content creates inherent risks that must be carefully managed through both technical and administrative controls.