CVE-2024-36164 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 and web publishing operations. The platform serves as a central hub for content creation, management, and delivery across multiple channels and devices. Organizations rely heavily on AEM for their digital presence, making it a prime target for sophisticated cyber attacks. The vulnerability under discussion affects versions 6.5.20 and earlier, which encompass a significant portion of deployed instances across various enterprises. This XSS vulnerability specifically targets form fields within the AEM interface, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized actions.
The technical flaw manifests as a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that occurs when user input is not properly sanitized before being stored and subsequently rendered back to users. In the context of AEM, when administrators or content editors populate form fields with malicious input containing JavaScript code, this code gets stored in the application's database or storage layer. The vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the form processing pipeline. When other users navigate to pages containing these vulnerable form fields, the malicious scripts execute within their browser context, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, representing a significant threat to enterprise security posture and user trust. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to AEM environments, potentially escalating privileges and gaining access to sensitive content management systems. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the platform, as malicious actors can manipulate content, steal authentication tokens, and compromise the entire content delivery ecosystem. Organizations using AEM for critical business operations face potential data breaches, service disruption, and reputational damage. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish command and control channels, use the platform as a launching point for further attacks, or conduct phishing operations against internal users. Given AEM's role in managing digital experiences, attackers could manipulate content to spread malicious payloads or conduct social engineering campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected AEM versions, implementing robust input validation mechanisms, and establishing comprehensive monitoring procedures. Organizations must prioritize updating to patched versions of AEM 6.5.21 or later, as provided by Adobe security advisories. Additionally, implementing strict content filtering and sanitization processes for all user inputs, particularly in form fields, can prevent malicious script injection. Security teams should deploy web application firewalls and implement proper output encoding to neutralize potential XSS payloads. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the broader application ecosystem. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering through malicious content injection. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs and access controls to limit the scope of potential exploitation, as well as maintaining detailed audit logs to detect unauthorized content modifications.