CVE-2023-48511 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2023
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 and earlier are affected by a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability that could be abused by a low-privileged attacker to inject malicious scripts into vulnerable form fields. Malicious JavaScript may be executed in a victim’s browser when they browse to the page containing the vulnerable field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2024
Adobe Experience Manager represents a comprehensive content management platform widely adopted by enterprises for digital experience management and web content publishing. The platform serves as a central hub for creating, managing, and delivering digital experiences across multiple channels. Given its critical role in enterprise digital infrastructure, vulnerabilities within AEM can have substantial operational implications for organizations relying on its services. The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in AEM versions 6.5.18 and earlier specifically targets form field processing mechanisms, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users over time. This vulnerability type falls under the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows malicious input to be executed as client-side scripts.
The technical flaw manifests when low-privileged users can submit malicious payloads through form fields that are subsequently stored within the AEM system. These stored payloads are then rendered in subsequent page views without proper sanitization or encoding, creating an environment where attacker-controlled JavaScript code can execute within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not require authentication to exploit, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the system until manually removed. The attack vector specifically targets the form field processing components of AEM, where user input is not adequately filtered or escaped before being stored and subsequently rendered back to users. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script executes every time a victim accesses a page containing the compromised field, making it a persistent threat that can affect numerous users over extended periods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. When an attacker successfully injects JavaScript into a form field, they can potentially access the victim's session cookies, steal sensitive information, or manipulate the victim's browser behavior in ways that compromise the integrity of the application. The low privilege requirement for exploitation means that even users with minimal access rights can create persistent threats within the system, potentially escalating to more severe attacks. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can undermine the security posture of organizations using AEM, particularly those handling sensitive customer data or proprietary information. The attack can be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where AEM is used for customer-facing applications, internal portals, or any system where user input is processed and displayed.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.19 or later, which contain patches addressing this vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious scripts from being stored or executed within form fields. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify other potential injection points within the AEM environment. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious input patterns in form fields, and access controls should be reviewed to minimize the potential impact of compromised accounts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads before they can be stored in the system. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles, specifically addressing the prevention of cross-site scripting attacks through proper data validation and encoding mechanisms.