CVE-2023-48549 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.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
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 personalized digital experiences across multiple channels. The platform serves as a critical component in enterprise content management and digital marketing ecosystems, handling sensitive user data through various form interactions and content management features. This vulnerability exists within the form processing mechanisms of Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 and earlier, specifically targeting the validation and rendering of user-submitted data within form fields. The stored XSS vulnerability arises from insufficient input sanitization and output encoding within the platform's form handling components, creating a persistent security weakness that allows malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code into form fields that are subsequently stored and rendered without proper security controls. The flaw particularly affects scenarios where user-generated content is processed through the platform's form submission workflows, enabling attackers to exploit the vulnerability through legitimate form interactions that bypass standard security filters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a low-privileged attacker to submit malicious JavaScript code through accessible form fields within the Adobe Experience Manager interface. Once submitted, the malicious payload is stored in the platform's database and subsequently rendered when other users access pages containing the vulnerable form fields. This creates a persistent threat vector where victims unknowingly execute the malicious code simply by viewing pages that contain the stored XSS payload. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the platform's content rendering pipeline, where user input is processed and displayed without adequate security sanitization. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, or data exfiltration from victim browsers. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists beyond the initial injection event, creating a long-term threat that can affect multiple users over extended periods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate security concerns to encompass broader organizational risks including potential data breaches, compliance violations, and reputational damage. Organizations utilizing affected Adobe Experience Manager versions face significant exposure risks as attackers can exploit this weakness to compromise user sessions and access sensitive information processed through the platform. The vulnerability's low privilege requirement makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users with minimal access rights, potentially enabling insider threat scenarios or compromised accounts. Security teams must consider the platform's integration with other enterprise systems and the potential for lateral movement within network environments where Adobe Experience Manager is deployed. The vulnerability's persistence creates ongoing monitoring requirements as malicious payloads can remain active for extended periods, potentially allowing attackers to establish long-term presence within target environments and execute more sophisticated attack patterns.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.19 or later, which contain the necessary security patches addressing this stored XSS vulnerability. The patch implementation should include comprehensive testing to ensure that existing form functionality remains intact while addressing the security gap. Security teams should implement additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect suspicious form submissions and anomalous user activities within the platform. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit exposure of vulnerable form interfaces and reduce the attack surface. Input validation and output encoding should be strengthened across all user-facing interfaces to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional weaknesses in the platform's security posture. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in application code, and represents a significant concern from ATT&CK framework perspective under the T1059.007 technique for script execution through web applications, potentially enabling further exploitation through session hijacking and privilege escalation vectors.