CVE-2024-34119 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 resides within its form processing functionality. This vulnerability affects versions 6.5.20 and earlier, representing a significant security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into form fields that are subsequently stored and displayed to other users. The flaw occurs when user input containing script tags or malicious payloads is accepted without proper sanitization or encoding, creating a persistent vector for exploitation. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS issue because the malicious code is saved server-side and executed whenever the compromised content is rendered to unsuspecting users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links. The attack vector typically involves an attacker submitting malicious content through form fields that are later displayed in web pages, often through administrative interfaces or content management features. When victims navigate to pages containing these compromised form fields, their browsers execute the injected JavaScript code within the context of their authenticated session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further compromise of the affected systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the Adobe Experience Manager environment. Once exploited, malicious actors can leverage the stored XSS to perform actions such as stealing user cookies, redirecting victims to malicious sites, or executing additional attacks against the victim's browser. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where AEM is used for content management, as it can be used to compromise administrator accounts and gain elevated privileges within the system. The attack requires minimal sophistication from the attacker since it leverages the existing form submission functionality, making it an attractive target for both automated scanning tools and targeted attacks. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active even after the initial injection, allowing for prolonged exploitation periods and reducing the likelihood of detection. This persistent threat capability makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that rely on AEM for critical business applications, as it can be used to maintain access and exfiltrate sensitive information over extended periods.
Organizations must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, beginning with applying the latest security patches provided by Adobe as soon as they become available. The patching process should include comprehensive testing in staging environments to ensure compatibility with existing customizations and workflows. Additionally, organizations should implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms at multiple layers of their application architecture, particularly focusing on form field processing and content rendering components. Security headers such as Content Security Policy should be enforced to limit the execution of inline scripts and restrict the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential injection points that may not be covered by the primary patch. Network monitoring and web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. The implementation of proper access controls and role-based permissions can limit the potential impact if an attacker does manage to exploit the vulnerability. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle XSS-related incidents, including user notification protocols and forensic analysis capabilities. Regular security awareness training for content managers and administrators can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering attacks that might leverage this vulnerability. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and demonstrates how seemingly routine form processing functionality can become a critical attack surface when proper security controls are not implemented.