CVE-2024-26095 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2024
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 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 • 03/23/2025
Adobe Experience Manager suffers from a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects versions 6.5.20 and earlier. 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 vector for exploitation. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies it as a cross-site scripting flaw where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. When victims browse to pages containing the maliciously injected content, their browsers execute the embedded javascript code, which can perform actions such as stealing cookies, redirecting to malicious sites, or even performing unauthorized operations on behalf of the user. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists in the system and affects multiple users over time, unlike reflected XSS which requires specific user interaction with crafted URLs.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the attack chain described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1531 for 'Modify System Image' and T1059.007 for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript'. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations using Adobe Experience Manager for content management and web application delivery, particularly those handling sensitive user data through forms. Organizations must prioritize patching their AEM installations to the latest versions that address this vulnerability, as the attack surface includes any form field that accepts user input and displays it without proper sanitization. The risk is compounded by the fact that AEM is commonly used for enterprise web applications where user trust and data protection are paramount considerations.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious javascript patterns in form submissions, combined with comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures. Organizations should also implement regular security scanning of their AEM instances to identify potentially vulnerable form fields and ensure proper content sanitization. The remediation process must involve thorough testing of patched versions to confirm that the vulnerability is fully addressed while maintaining application functionality. Additionally, security awareness training for developers working with AEM should emphasize proper input handling and the importance of implementing defense-in-depth measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom developed components.