CVE-2024-26115 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2024
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 and earlier are affected by a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. If an attacker is able to convince a victim to visit a URL referencing a vulnerable page, malicious JavaScript content may be executed within the context of the victim's browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2025
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 and earlier contain a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in web application defenses. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as reflected XSS where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without proper sanitization or encoding. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied input that is processed and returned in HTTP responses without adequate validation mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that contain script payloads which are then executed in the victim's browser when the page is loaded. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious link, making it a prime target for social engineering campaigns. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious script is not stored on the server but is instead executed from the request itself, making it difficult to detect through traditional server-side scanning methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the ability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, modify web page content, or redirect users to malicious sites. In the context of Adobe Experience Manager, which serves as a comprehensive content management platform, successful exploitation could allow attackers to access administrative functions, manipulate content, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive customer data. The vulnerability affects the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms, potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks where low-privilege users might gain elevated access rights. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which describes the use of malicious code injection to compromise system integrity. The reflected XSS in AEM environments particularly threatens the platform's user interface components and administrative dashboards where user input is processed without proper sanitization, creating persistent attack surfaces that can be leveraged for extended compromise operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of multiple defensive layers including input validation, output encoding, and web application firewall rules. Organizations should implement strict validation of all user-supplied input across all application endpoints, particularly those handling URL parameters and form data. The solution involves applying proper HTML encoding to all dynamic content before rendering it in web pages, which prevents malicious scripts from executing even when injected into the application. Security headers such as Content Security Policy should be implemented to restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized content loading. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Adobe has released patches for this vulnerability in newer versions of AEM, making it critical for organizations to upgrade to supported releases. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that existing security controls do not inadvertently introduce new vulnerabilities while addressing the identified XSS flaw. Regular security training for developers on secure coding practices and input validation techniques remains essential to prevent similar issues in future application development cycles.