CVE-2023-48497 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2023
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 and earlier are affected by a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (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 reflected 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 of Cross-Site Scripting and specifically manifests as a reflected XSS flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into web responses. The vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input parameters before reflecting them back to the browser, creating an opening for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser context. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload is delivered via a crafted URL that, when clicked by an unsuspecting user, causes the victim's browser to execute the injected script.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. Low-privileged attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious URLs that target specific parameters within the AEM interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter untrusted links in emails, forums, or other communication channels. The vulnerability affects the broader Adobe Experience Manager ecosystem and could potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges or access restricted administrative functions if proper input validation is not implemented at the application layer.
Organizations utilizing Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 or earlier should prioritize immediate remediation efforts to address this reflected XSS vulnerability. The most effective mitigation strategy involves implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase, particularly in areas where user-provided parameters are processed and returned to browsers. Security controls should align with the ATT&CK framework's T1566.001 technique for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Additionally, organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers, employ web application firewalls, and conduct regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Adobe has released patches and updates for this vulnerability that should be deployed immediately to prevent exploitation attempts, as the reflected nature of the vulnerability makes it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise user sessions and execute malicious code within the context of legitimate user accounts.