CVE-2024-26065 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 versions 6.5.19 and earlier contain a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant threat to web application security. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as a stored XSS flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into form fields within the AEM interface. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before it is rendered back to users in web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious script payloads through form fields that are subsequently stored in the application's database or content repository. When legitimate users access pages containing these stored malicious payloads, their browsers execute the injected JavaScript code within their security context, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a persistent vector for various malicious activities within the AEM environment. An attacker with access to form fields or content submission areas can establish a foothold that persists across user sessions, enabling long-term exploitation. The vulnerability can be leveraged to perform session hijacking attacks, steal cookies and authentication tokens, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or privilege escalation within the AEM system. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, the malicious code remains active until manually removed, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over extended periods. The attack surface is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where AEM is used for content management, as it provides attackers with access to potentially sensitive business information and administrative interfaces.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls to prevent malicious script injection, while also applying the latest security patches released by Adobe to address this specific vulnerability. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their AEM installations to identify all potential entry points where user input is processed and stored. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing and T1203 for exploitation for persistence. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies, restricting user permissions for content submission, and monitoring for suspicious content submissions. Regular security training for content authors and administrators is essential to prevent social engineering attacks that could lead to exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for known XSS attack patterns and block malicious payloads before they can be executed in user browsers. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, particularly in content management systems where user-generated content is prevalent and security controls may be insufficiently implemented.