CVE-2023-48582 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 security risk for organizations relying on this content management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and specifically affects form fields within the AEM interface where user input is stored and subsequently rendered without proper sanitization. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into form fields that are later executed when other users view the affected content, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise multiple victims over time.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within AEM's form processing components. When low-privileged users submit data through forms within the AEM interface, the system fails to properly sanitize the input before storing it in the backend database or content repository. This stored data is then retrieved and displayed in subsequent page renders without appropriate HTML escaping or script context validation, creating the conditions for XSS exploitation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer and can persist across multiple user sessions, allowing attackers to maintain access to compromised systems over extended periods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration from victim browsers. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, manipulate content, or redirect users to malicious sites that can further compromise the enterprise network. The low privilege requirement for exploitation means that even users with minimal access rights can potentially compromise the entire system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where user access controls are not properly enforced. This threat vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for Account Access Removal and T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers can use the compromised system to establish persistent access and exfiltrate data through various network protocols.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches released by Adobe, implementing strict input validation policies for all form fields, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Additional protective measures include enabling Content Security Policy headers, implementing proper output encoding for all user-generated content, and conducting regular security assessments of AEM instances to identify potential injection points. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege enforcement and regular access reviews to minimize the impact of compromised accounts. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual form submission patterns or content modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for comprehensive security testing of web applications, particularly those handling user input, and underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices in content management systems.