CVE-2023-48548 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 • 01/06/2024
Adobe Experience Manager represents a comprehensive digital experience platform that enables organizations to create, manage, and deliver digital content across multiple channels. The platform serves as a central hub for content management, digital asset management, and customer experience orchestration. Given its critical role in enterprise digital infrastructure, vulnerabilities within AEM can have far-reaching implications for organizational security posture. The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in versions 6.5.18 and earlier specifically targets the platform's form handling mechanisms, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within AEM's form processing components. When users submit data through forms within the AEM interface, the platform fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before storing it in the backend database or content repository. This stored data is subsequently retrieved and displayed without adequate HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding, creating an environment where malicious JavaScript payloads can persist and execute. The vulnerability affects form fields that accept user input, particularly those used in content creation, user management, and configuration interfaces. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once malicious input is injected, it remains persistent and can affect multiple users who view the affected content, making the attack surface significantly broader than typical XSS scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to establish persistent footholds within the AEM environment. Low-privileged attackers who can submit content through forms gain the ability to compromise other users who interact with the affected pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability can be exploited to manipulate content, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of compromised users. Given that AEM is often used for sensitive business operations including customer data management, marketing campaigns, and internal communications, the potential for business disruption and data compromise is substantial. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the attack remains active until the malicious content is removed from the system, creating ongoing security risks for organizations.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.19 or later versions to remediate this vulnerability, as the update includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additional mitigations include implementing strict content filtering policies, conducting regular security assessments of form inputs, and monitoring user-submitted content for suspicious patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, and establish incident response procedures for rapid remediation of compromised content. Regular security training for content creators and administrators can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering or insider threats.