CVE-2024-36171 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 digital experience platform that enables organizations to create, manage, and deliver personalized digital experiences across multiple channels. The platform serves as a critical component in enterprise digital strategies, handling sensitive user data through various form interactions and content management functionalities. This stored cross-site scripting vulnerability specifically targets the form handling mechanisms within AEM's content management capabilities, creating a persistent security risk that can affect numerous enterprise environments relying on the platform for customer interactions and data collection.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper sanitization of user input within form fields, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets stored within the application's database or content repository. When legitimate users subsequently view pages containing these vulnerable form fields, the stored script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This vulnerability operates as a classic stored XSS attack where the malicious payload persists server-side and executes automatically when accessed by other users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in AEM environments where forms are used for customer data collection, user registration, or feedback submission processes, as these fields often receive untrusted input from multiple sources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive user data, or compromise entire user sessions. In enterprise environments where AEM is used for customer relationship management, e-commerce transactions, or internal employee portals, this vulnerability could result in significant data breaches or unauthorized access to confidential information. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even after the initial injection, the malicious code continues to execute whenever users access the affected pages, creating a persistent threat that can remain undetected for extended periods. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that do not perform regular security monitoring or automated vulnerability scanning of their AEM implementations.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including input validation, output encoding, and regular security assessments of their AEM environments. The recommended approach involves upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.21 or later versions where this vulnerability has been addressed through enhanced input sanitization and improved content filtering mechanisms. Security teams should also implement web application firewalls, regular penetration testing, and automated vulnerability scanning to detect similar issues in other components of their digital infrastructure. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, while the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1566 for initial access through malicious content and T1071 for application layer protocols. Organizations must also consider implementing content security policies and regular security training for developers to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom AEM applications and extensions.