CVE-2023-48567 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2023
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 and earlier are affected by a Cross-site Scripting (DOM-based XSS) vulnerability. If a low-privileged attacker is able to convince a victim to visit a URL referencing a vulnerable page, malicious JavaScript content may be executed within the context of the victim's browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2025
Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.18 and earlier versions contain a DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on this content management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and specifically manifests as a DOM-based XSS flaw, where malicious scripts can be injected through the document object model rather than traditional input fields. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within the application's DOM structure, creating an attack surface where malicious code can be executed when users navigate to compromised URLs. The security implications are particularly concerning because the exploitation requires only that a victim clicks on a malicious link, making it a client-side attack vector that can bypass traditional server-side security controls. This vulnerability is categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, highlighting how attackers can leverage JavaScript execution capabilities to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the application context.
The technical implementation of this DOM-based XSS vulnerability occurs when the application processes user input directly within the browser's DOM without proper validation or sanitization. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that contain script payloads which are then executed when the victim's browser processes the page content. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects low-privileged users who may be tricked into visiting malicious links through social engineering techniques, phishing campaigns, or compromised websites. When successful, the malicious JavaScript code can access cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive data stored in the browser's memory, potentially enabling session hijacking attacks. The vulnerability affects the entire user interface of Adobe Experience Manager, including administrative interfaces, making it a critical concern for organizations that rely on this platform for content management and digital experience delivery. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability means that even if server-side input validation is properly implemented, client-side code processing can still introduce security risks when not properly secured.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-48567 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including data theft, session manipulation, and potential privilege escalation within the application context. Organizations using Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.18 or earlier versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive content management systems, potentially compromising the integrity of digital experiences and corporate data. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal attacker effort, as it relies on victim interaction with malicious URLs rather than complex exploitation techniques. This makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where administrators and content creators regularly interact with web applications. The attack surface is broad due to the nature of content management systems, where various user roles may be exposed to malicious content through shared links, embedded content, or collaborative editing features. The vulnerability can also facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, where attackers capture user authentication tokens and session data for later use. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack chain that could lead to complete system compromise, especially when combined with other exploitation techniques or vulnerabilities within the same environment.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address CVE-2023-48567, beginning with upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.19 or later versions where the vulnerability has been patched. The patch addresses the core DOM-based XSS issue by implementing proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms within the application's JavaScript processing layers. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection, though this should be combined with the official patch for complete protection. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, but these should not be relied upon as the sole mitigation strategy. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure that the patch has been properly implemented across all affected systems. User education programs should be strengthened to help staff recognize phishing attempts and malicious links that could exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-79 and ATT&CK technique T1059.007 emphasizes the need for both technical and operational security controls, as the attack vector involves client-side execution that requires comprehensive protection strategies. Organizations should also monitor their systems for signs of exploitation attempts and implement proper logging and alerting mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts related to this vulnerability.