CVE-2024-26073 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 resides within the form field processing functionality of the AEM platform, where user input is not properly sanitized before being stored and subsequently rendered back to users. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into form fields that are later displayed to other users, creating a persistent XSS vector that can affect multiple victims over time. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter through web shell execution. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous for long-term exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within AEM's content management and form handling components. When users submit data through forms within the AEM interface, the system fails to adequately sanitize the input before storing it in the repository or database. This oversight allows attackers to embed malicious script payloads that are then executed whenever other users view the affected content or interact with the vulnerable form fields. The attack surface is particularly wide as AEM is commonly used for creating web content, managing user interactions, and handling form submissions across various digital platforms. The vulnerability can be exploited through multiple vectors including content creation forms, user profile fields, comment sections, and any other input mechanisms that store user data within the AEM environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the AEM environment that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious JavaScript, they can potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even establish persistent backdoors within the application. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that victims may unknowingly execute malicious code simply by viewing content that contains the injected scripts, making this a particularly insidious threat. Organizations using affected AEM versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive content, and possible compromise of the entire AEM instance. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to perform reconnaissance activities within the application, potentially identifying other system components or vulnerabilities that could be exploited for privilege escalation or lateral movement.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigations to address this vulnerability, beginning with the immediate upgrade to Adobe Experience Manager version 6.5.20 or later, which contains the necessary security patches. Network segmentation and proper input validation should be enforced at multiple layers of the application architecture to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Web Application Firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious script patterns in form submissions, while proper output encoding should be implemented to prevent script execution in rendered content. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all form fields and user input mechanisms within the AEM environment to identify and remediate any other potential XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be performed to ensure that the application remains secure against evolving threat vectors, with particular attention to the ATT&CK framework's reconnaissance and initial access phases. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper input sanitization processes can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against this and similar vulnerabilities.