CVE-2024-36147 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 presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in versions 6.5.20 and earlier, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into form fields that persist in the application's database. This flaw enables adversaries to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising user data and system integrity. The vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input within form fields, where insufficient sanitization or encoding of malicious content permits script execution when the compromised data is rendered back to users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within AEM's content management and form processing components. When users submit data through web forms, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape potentially malicious content before storing it in the repository. This stored data is subsequently retrieved and displayed without adequate protection measures, creating an ideal environment for cross-site scripting attacks. The flaw operates as a classic stored XSS vulnerability where the malicious payload is permanently stored and executed during subsequent page rendering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. An attacker could craft malicious payloads that steal user cookies, redirect victims to phishing sites, or even execute commands on behalf of authenticated users. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that once the malicious content is injected, it will affect all users who access the compromised pages until the vulnerability is patched or the malicious data is removed from the database.
Organizations utilizing Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 or earlier face significant security risks from this vulnerability, as it directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their web applications. The attack surface includes any form field within the AEM interface that accepts user input, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems that handle sensitive data submissions. Security teams must prioritize patching this vulnerability immediately, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within their web applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a significant risk under ATT&CK technique T1566 related to social engineering through malicious content injection.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected AEM versions to the latest security releases, while implementing additional protective measures such as content security policies, input validation, and output encoding. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive audits of all form fields and user input points within their AEM installations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Regular security testing and monitoring of user-generated content can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential damage from successful attacks. The implementation of web application firewalls and enhanced logging mechanisms provides additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts.