CVE-2024-26087 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 04/10/2024
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 • 04/07/2025
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 resides in the form handling mechanisms of the 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 attack vector. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS due to the malicious payload being permanently stored on the server and executed whenever the affected page is accessed. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of input validation and output encoding, which are fundamental security measures that should prevent malicious code from being executed in user browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to submit malicious javascript code through a vulnerable form field within the Adobe Experience Manager interface. Once submitted, the code is stored in the application's database or storage system and becomes part of the content that is later served to other users. When legitimate users access pages containing these stored form fields, their browsers execute the malicious javascript code within the context of the victim's session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer, bypassing standard browser security mechanisms that typically protect against such attacks. This flaw aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and it demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate the OWASP Top Ten security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and access sensitive information within the Adobe Experience Manager environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user sessions, manipulate content displayed to other users, or even gain access to administrative functions if the vulnerable forms are used in administrative interfaces. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the attack can affect multiple users over extended periods without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. This vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to perform reconnaissance activities by capturing user credentials or session tokens, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Adobe Experience Manager is used for content management, customer interaction, and business-critical applications, as the attack surface can include sensitive corporate data and user information.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and content security policy enforcement. The primary remediation involves upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 or later, which contain patches addressing this specific vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement strict input sanitization measures that filter out or escape potentially dangerous characters and script tags from form submissions. Web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious input patterns that may indicate XSS attempts. The implementation of proper content security policies can help prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if an attacker manages to inject malicious code. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in related applications and ensure that the security controls are properly implemented. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or submitting untrusted content to web forms. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth security measures to protect against persistent threats. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the technique of "Cross-Site Scripting" with potential for privilege escalation and credential access, making it a high-priority concern for security teams.