CVE-2023-48550 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 personalized content across multiple channels. The platform serves as a critical component in enterprise digital strategies, handling sensitive user data through various form interactions and content management functionalities. This stored cross-site scripting vulnerability specifically targets the form handling mechanisms within the AEM interface, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by attackers with minimal privileges.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper sanitization of user input within form fields that are subsequently stored and rendered back to users. When low-privileged attackers submit malicious JavaScript code through form inputs, the system fails to adequately validate or escape the content before storing it in the database. This stored data is then served back to other users who view the page containing the vulnerable form field, executing the malicious script within their browser context. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is directly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft payloads that steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even inject additional malicious code that persists across multiple user sessions. The low privilege requirement makes this particularly dangerous as it allows attackers who have minimal access to the system to escalate their capabilities significantly. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web forms, comment sections, or any user input field that accepts and stores HTML content.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses all AEM instances running version 6.5.18 or earlier, particularly those with user-facing forms or content management interfaces where users can submit content. Organizations utilizing AEM for customer portals, feedback systems, or collaborative content management are especially vulnerable. The stored nature of the XSS means that the malicious payload remains active until explicitly removed, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over extended periods. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on credential access through malicious scripts and T1059 which covers command and control through script-based attacks.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches and updates for Adobe Experience Manager to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms can provide defense-in-depth protection. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all user input fields and review existing content for potential malicious payloads. Regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the digital ecosystem. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect suspicious activities related to form submissions and content modifications. The implementation of content security policies and proper access controls can further reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.