CVE-2023-48599 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 suffers from a DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects versions 6.5.18 and earlier. This flaw resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within the browser environment, specifically when processing URLs that reference vulnerable pages. The vulnerability allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes within the victim's browser context when they visit a crafted URL. The attack requires social engineering to convince a victim to click on a malicious link, making it particularly dangerous in targeted phishing campaigns or when users are tricked into visiting compromised web pages. The DOM-based nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious script is executed directly in the browser's document object model without requiring server-side processing, making it more difficult to detect and prevent through traditional server-side input validation techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of URL parameters and input fields within AEM's user interface components. When legitimate users navigate to pages that process user-provided data through DOM manipulation methods such as innerHTML, document.write, or eval functions, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before rendering it in the browser. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious scripts that can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects low-privileged attackers who can exploit it without requiring elevated permissions, making it accessible to a broader range of threat actors. According to CWE standards, this corresponds to CWE-79 which represents Cross-site Scripting vulnerabilities in the DOM, and the attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft malicious URLs that steal authentication tokens or cookies from authenticated users, potentially allowing them to impersonate legitimate users within the AEM environment. The vulnerability also poses risks to sensitive content management operations since AEM administrators often have elevated privileges and access to confidential data. When exploited, the XSS attack could lead to unauthorized access to content management systems, modification of web content, or even complete system compromise if the victim is an administrator with elevated privileges. Organizations using affected AEM versions face potential exposure to advanced persistent threats that leverage this vulnerability for reconnaissance and lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves applying the latest security patches and updates provided by Adobe to address the specific XSS flaw. Additionally, implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's codebase can help prevent malicious content from being executed. Web Application Firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious URL patterns that may indicate XSS attempts. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security awareness training to help users recognize and avoid potentially malicious links. Regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify additional vulnerabilities that may be exploited in conjunction with this XSS flaw. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper sanitization of user inputs in all web applications can significantly reduce the risk of successful XSS exploitation. Monitoring web application logs for unusual URL patterns and user behavior can provide early detection of potential exploitation attempts. According to security best practices and industry standards, organizations must maintain continuous vigilance and proactive security measures to protect against this and similar DOM-based XSS vulnerabilities that can compromise user sessions and sensitive data within content management systems.