CVE-2024-26059 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 03/18/2024
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.19 and earlier are affected by a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability that could be abused by an 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 • 04/15/2025
Adobe Experience Manager version 6.5.19 and earlier contains a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant threat to web application security. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw exists within the form handling mechanisms of the platform where user input is not properly sanitized before being stored and subsequently rendered back to users. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious JavaScript code through vulnerable form fields, which then gets stored in the application's database or storage system. When other users navigate to pages containing these stored inputs, their browsers execute the injected scripts in the context of their current session, potentially compromising their security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent attack vector that can be leveraged for various malicious activities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could perform actions such as stealing user session cookies, redirecting victims to malicious websites, defacing web pages, or even conducting more sophisticated attacks like credential theft or privilege escalation. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active even after the initial injection, creating a long-term threat that persists until the vulnerable form fields are properly sanitized or patched. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the same content management system, as the attack can propagate through legitimate user interactions.
Organizations utilizing Adobe Experience Manager in their digital infrastructure face substantial risk from this vulnerability, as it directly impacts the integrity and security of their web applications. The attack surface is broad since form fields are commonly used throughout content management systems for user feedback, comments, contact forms, and administrative inputs. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1059.007 technique for script injection, and the T1566 technique for social engineering through phishing. The vulnerability demonstrates how insecure input handling can create persistent security weaknesses that may be exploited in targeted attacks against specific users or organizations. The risk assessment should include consideration of the potential for privilege escalation if the application has administrative functions accessible through the same vulnerable form fields.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and should include both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious scripts from being stored or executed in the first place. The application should employ proper content security policies and implement strict sanitization of all user inputs before storage. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script patterns in real-time. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Adobe Experience Manager ecosystem. Patch management procedures should be established to ensure that all instances of Adobe Experience Manager are updated promptly to versions that address this specific vulnerability. The remediation process should also include thorough review of all form fields and user input mechanisms within the application to identify and secure any other potential XSS attack vectors that may exist in the broader system architecture.