CVE-2024-26029 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2024
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 and earlier are affected by an Improper Access Control vulnerability that could result in a Security feature bypass. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to bypass security measures and gain unauthorized access. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
Adobe Experience Manager serves as a comprehensive content management platform that powers digital experiences for enterprises worldwide. The platform implements various security controls to protect sensitive data and maintain system integrity. However, CVE-2024-26029 represents a critical flaw in the access control mechanisms that govern how the system handles authentication and authorization. This vulnerability specifically targets the security feature bypass capability within Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 and earlier, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent established protective measures. The flaw exists at the core of how the system validates user permissions and enforces access restrictions, fundamentally undermining the security architecture that organizations rely upon for protecting their digital assets.
The technical implementation of this improper access control vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user privileges and authentication states within the AEM security framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific requests that manipulate the system's access control logic, allowing them to bypass authentication mechanisms without requiring legitimate credentials or user interaction. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly verify whether a requesting entity possesses adequate permissions to access specific resources or perform certain administrative functions. This particular flaw falls under the CWE-285 category of Improper Access Control, which encompasses issues where systems fail to properly enforce access restrictions. The absence of proper input validation and privilege checking creates a condition where unauthorized entities can traverse security boundaries and access protected components of the AEM environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to escalate their privileges and gain administrative control over the entire AEM instance. Security feature bypass vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-26029 can allow adversaries to access restricted administrative interfaces, modify content, manipulate user permissions, and potentially exfiltrate sensitive data. The lack of requirement for user interaction makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without the need for social engineering or user deception tactics. Organizations using affected AEM versions face significant risk of data breaches, content tampering, and potential system compromise that could affect their digital presence and customer data protection. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system takeover, especially when combined with other attack vectors, making it a critical concern for enterprise security teams managing digital experience platforms.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.21 or later versions where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper access control implementation. Security administrators should also review and enforce strict network segmentation controls to limit access to AEM instances and implement additional monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can leverage the bypassed access to establish persistent presence within the environment. Additional defensive measures include implementing robust logging and monitoring of access control events, conducting regular security assessments of the AEM environment, and ensuring that only necessary administrative functions are exposed to network access. Organizations should also verify that their incident response procedures include specific protocols for addressing access control bypass vulnerabilities in content management systems.