CVE-2024-36162 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 represents a comprehensive content management platform that serves as the backbone for enterprise digital experiences. The platform's vulnerability in versions 6.5.20 and earlier stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within its form processing components. This stored cross-site scripting flaw specifically targets form fields that accept user-generated content, creating a persistent security risk where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed whenever the compromised data is rendered in web browsers. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient sanitization of user inputs that are stored in the system's database and later retrieved for display, allowing attackers to embed malicious javascript code that persists across sessions and user interactions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established attack pattern that aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that include javascript code within form fields, which are then stored server-side and executed in the context of victim browsers when they view the affected pages. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script remains persistent until manually removed or the system is patched, potentially affecting multiple users who encounter the compromised content. The attack vector leverages the platform's trust in stored data, where the system assumes that content previously submitted by users is safe for display without additional validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that align with ATT&CK technique T1531 - Account Access Removal and T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter. An attacker could potentially harvest session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even establish persistent backdoors through the execution of malicious javascript. The vulnerability affects the platform's core content management functionality, potentially compromising the integrity of digital experiences across enterprise websites. Organizations relying on Adobe Experience Manager for customer-facing applications face significant risk of data theft, service disruption, and reputational damage when this vulnerability is exploited.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application as provided by Adobe, which addresses the root cause through enhanced input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script patterns, regular security scanning of form inputs, and comprehensive user input sanitization. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against script execution, while regular security training for developers can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom code extensions. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their Adobe Experience Manager implementations to identify and remediate any additional related vulnerabilities that may exist within their custom configurations and third-party integrations.