CVE-2024-36163 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 widely deployed across enterprise environments for digital experience management. The platform serves as a central hub for content creation, management, and delivery across multiple channels including websites, mobile applications, and digital marketing campaigns. Given its critical role in enterprise digital infrastructure, vulnerabilities within AEM can have significant operational and security implications for organizations relying on its services.
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 and earlier stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within form processing mechanisms. This flaw specifically affects form fields where user input is stored and subsequently rendered without proper sanitization of potentially malicious content. When attackers submit malicious JavaScript code through vulnerable form fields, the system stores this content in its database or storage mechanisms without sufficient validation. The vulnerability manifests when legitimate users subsequently view pages containing these stored malicious inputs, causing the injected scripts to execute within their browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a persistent attack vector that can be leveraged for various malicious activities. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or harvest sensitive information from the targeted environment. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the attack remains effective even after the initial injection, allowing for prolonged exploitation periods. This characteristic aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a critical class of web application flaws that enable attackers to execute scripts in the victim's browser context.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise security postures as it requires minimal privileges for exploitation and can affect any user interacting with vulnerable form fields. The attack vector typically involves an attacker identifying accessible form fields within AEM applications, crafting malicious payloads that bypass existing security controls, and then waiting for unsuspecting users to view the affected content. This approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which describes the use of malicious code injection to gain unauthorized access to systems. The vulnerability's persistence across user sessions makes it particularly dangerous for environments where multiple users interact with the same content management system.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Adobe to address the vulnerability. Additionally, implementing robust input validation mechanisms, output encoding, and content security policies can help reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments of form handling mechanisms within AEM installations, along with user education about potential phishing attempts, can further strengthen defensive measures. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the critical need for comprehensive security testing of web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.