CVE-2023-48602 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 represents a comprehensive digital experience platform that enables organizations to create, manage, and deliver digital content across multiple channels. The platform serves as a central hub for content management, digital asset management, and customer experience orchestration. Given its critical role in enterprise digital infrastructure, vulnerabilities within AEM can have far-reaching consequences for organizations relying on its services. The platform's architecture includes various components such as form handling mechanisms, content rendering engines, and user interface elements that process and display user-generated content.
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 and earlier stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the form processing components. This flaw specifically affects how the system handles user-submitted data in form fields, failing to properly escape or filter malicious script payloads before storing and rendering them. The vulnerability manifests when low-privileged attackers can submit malicious JavaScript code through form inputs that are subsequently stored in the system's database or content repository. When other users view pages containing these stored form fields, the malicious scripts execute within their browser context, creating a persistent XSS attack vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities through the victim's browser session. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or harvest sensitive information from the victim's browsing context. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which addresses the improper handling of user input that leads to XSS conditions. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where AEM instances often contain sensitive business data, user information, and administrative controls.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability effectively. Immediate remediation involves upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.19 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, implementing strict input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level can provide defense-in-depth protection. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all form handling components within the AEM instance, ensuring that proper sanitization routines are in place for all user-submitted content. Content Security Policy implementations can further restrict script execution capabilities in the browser context, limiting the potential impact of any remaining vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues across the digital infrastructure. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 - Account Access Removal, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges through session hijacking and unauthorized access to user accounts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script payloads before they can be stored or executed within the system.