CVE-2023-48524 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 that serves as a cornerstone for enterprise digital experiences. The platform's architecture includes robust form handling capabilities that allow content creators to build interactive web forms for user engagement. These forms typically collect user input through various field types including text areas, dropdown menus, and rich text editors. The vulnerability exists within the form processing pipeline where user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being rendered back to users. This creates a persistent security gap that can be exploited by attackers who gain access to the platform with minimal privileges. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that malicious payloads are permanently embedded within the form fields and will execute each time the affected page is accessed, making it particularly dangerous for widespread impact.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within Adobe Experience Manager's form handling components. When users submit data through forms, the system stores this information in its backend repositories without proper sanitization of potentially malicious content. The vulnerability specifically affects text input fields and rich text editors where attackers can inject javascript code that will execute in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a condition where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or encoding. The attack vector requires only a low-privileged user account that can submit form data, making it particularly concerning for organizations where form submission permissions are broadly distributed. The malicious code injection occurs during the rendering process when the stored data is displayed back to users, creating a persistent XSS vulnerability that can be leveraged for session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise entire user sessions. Attackers can exploit the stored XSS to steal session cookies, redirect victims to phishing sites, or inject additional malicious content that persists across multiple user interactions. The low privilege requirement means that even users with minimal access rights can cause significant damage to the platform's security posture. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive data, manipulation of form content, or potential lateral movement within the application environment. The persistent nature of stored XSS allows attackers to maintain access over extended periods without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations that rely heavily on user-generated content through forms, as it creates a persistent backdoor that can be used for ongoing surveillance or data exfiltration activities. The attack can be executed through various means including automated scripts or manual injection techniques, making detection and prevention challenging for security teams.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Adobe Experience Manager platform. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied data undergoes strict sanitization before storage and rendering, particularly in form fields that support rich text input. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers should be enforced to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, while proper output encoding should be applied when rendering stored content back to users. Adobe recommends upgrading to versions 6.5.19 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through enhanced input validation and sanitization routines. Security teams should implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous form submission patterns and suspicious script injections. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify other potential XSS vulnerabilities within the platform, particularly in custom components or extensions. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The mitigation approach should also include user education regarding the risks of submitting untrusted content and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Organizations should establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle XSS exploitation attempts and ensure that all security patches are applied promptly to maintain platform integrity.