CVE-2023-48557 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 • 09/20/2025
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 and earlier contain a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant threat to web application security. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and specifically manifests as a stored XSS flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into form fields within the AEM interface. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before it is stored and subsequently rendered in web pages. Attackers with low-privileged access can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious payloads through form fields that are later displayed to other users, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect any user who interacts with the compromised content. The security implications extend beyond simple script execution as this vulnerability can be leveraged to perform session hijacking, deface web applications, steal sensitive data, or redirect users to malicious websites.
The operational impact of this stored XSS vulnerability is substantial as it enables attackers to maintain persistent access to victim systems through the execution of malicious JavaScript code. When users browse to pages containing the vulnerable form fields, their browsers execute the injected scripts without proper security context, potentially compromising their sessions and exposing sensitive information. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that AEM is widely used for content management and digital experience platforms, meaning that successful exploitation could affect numerous organizations across various sectors. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistence through web shell deployment, and T1566 which covers social engineering tactics that could be enhanced through XSS exploitation. The low privilege requirement makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it does not require administrative access to be exploited, potentially allowing any user with basic access rights to create a persistent threat.
Organizations utilizing Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 or earlier should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary mitigation strategy involves applying the latest security patches released by Adobe as soon as possible, which typically include enhanced input validation, proper output encoding, and stricter sanitization of user-supplied data. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional defense-in-depth mechanism that prevents execution of unauthorized scripts even if XSS occurs. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads before they reach the application. Regular security assessments and code reviews should focus on identifying similar input validation gaps in other application components. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the need for continuous vulnerability management programs that can quickly identify and remediate such critical flaws. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle XSS-related security events, ensuring rapid containment and remediation of any exploitation attempts.