CVE-2023-48604 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 systems running versions 6.5.18 and earlier contain a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows low-privileged attackers to inject malicious javascript code into form fields. This vulnerability resides in the content management system's handling of user input within web forms, where insufficient sanitization permits persistent script injection. The flaw enables attackers with minimal privileges to compromise the integrity of web applications and potentially escalate their privileges through session hijacking or credential theft. When victims browse to pages containing the compromised form fields, the injected javascript executes within their browser context, creating opportunities for data exfiltration, session manipulation, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability specifically affects the server-side processing of form data where input validation occurs after data persistence, allowing malicious scripts to remain embedded in the application's database or storage layer. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists across multiple user sessions and browser visits, amplifying the potential impact of a single injection event. The flaw aligns with CWE-79 which identifies cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications, and represents a significant risk to user privacy and application security. The vulnerability creates an attack surface that enables adversaries to exploit trust relationships between users and the application, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper input validation and output encoding within Adobe Experience Manager's form processing components. Attackers can leverage this weakness by submitting malicious javascript payloads through form fields that are subsequently stored and rendered without adequate sanitization. The vulnerability occurs during the data persistence phase where user-submitted content bypasses security filters designed to prevent script injection. This allows attackers to embed payloads that execute in the context of other users who interact with the compromised forms. The attack requires minimal privileges since Adobe Experience Manager's form handling does not adequately validate or sanitize input before storing it in the system. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, malicious code remains active until manually removed from the system's database or content repository. This persistent threat can affect multiple users over extended periods, making it particularly dangerous for applications handling sensitive data or user information. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defense-in-depth principles where input validation should occur at multiple layers within the application architecture, including both client-side and server-side processing.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-48604 extends beyond simple script execution, creating opportunities for advanced persistent threats and credential harvesting attacks. Users who access compromised pages may unknowingly execute malicious code that can capture keystrokes, steal session cookies, or redirect them to phishing sites. The vulnerability enables attackers to establish persistent footholds within the application environment, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or lateral movement to other systems. Organizations utilizing Adobe Experience Manager may experience data breaches, reputational damage, and regulatory compliance violations if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise, making it accessible to attackers with basic knowledge of web application security. The vulnerability also creates challenges for incident response teams since malicious scripts can persist across multiple user sessions and browser sessions, complicating forensic analysis and remediation efforts. Security teams must consider the potential for this vulnerability to be used in combination with other attack techniques, including social engineering or phishing campaigns that direct users to compromised pages.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Adobe's security patches and updates for Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 and earlier. The recommended approach involves strengthening input validation and output encoding mechanisms within form processing components to prevent script injection. Security configurations should enforce strict content sanitization policies that remove or escape potentially malicious input before storage. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, along with regular security scanning of application components. The mitigation strategy should include monitoring for unauthorized form submissions and implementing proper access controls to limit user privileges within the application environment. Additional security measures include regular security training for administrators to recognize potential attack patterns and implementing proper logging mechanisms to track form submissions. Organizations should consider implementing content security policies that restrict script execution within web applications and establish procedures for regular vulnerability assessments. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing new security issues. Security teams should also develop incident response procedures specifically designed to handle stored cross-site scripting attacks and establish communication protocols for reporting and mitigating such vulnerabilities.