CVE-2024-36181 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2024
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 and earlier are affected by a DOM-based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser session. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction, typically in the form of convincing a victim to visit a maliciously crafted web page or to interact with a maliciously modified DOM element within the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2025
Adobe Experience Manager presents a significant security weakness through CVE-2024-36181, which manifests as a DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability affecting versions 6.5.20 and earlier. This flaw resides within the application's handling of dynamic content and user input processing within the browser environment, creating a persistent risk for unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability operates at the document object model level where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed when users interact with affected web pages. The attack vector requires social engineering elements to succeed, as users must be convinced to engage with maliciously crafted content that leverages the DOM-based XSS mechanism. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution through web browsers. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious URLs or HTML content that when processed by the vulnerable AEM application, causes the browser to execute unintended JavaScript code within the victim's session context. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can potentially access sensitive user data, hijack sessions, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is embedded within the application's dynamic behavior rather than being reflected in HTTP responses, making detection more challenging for traditional security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential data breaches, session hijacking, and privilege escalation within the AEM environment. When exploited successfully, attackers can manipulate the application's DOM structure to inject malicious code that persists across user sessions and can target multiple users simultaneously. The requirement for user interaction creates a realistic attack scenario where phishing campaigns or compromised web pages can effectively deliver the malicious payload. Organizations using affected AEM versions face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to content management systems, user authentication tokens, and sensitive corporate data. The attack surface includes any functionality that processes user input through DOM manipulation, particularly in components that handle dynamic content rendering or user-generated content. Security teams must consider the implications for both internal users and external visitors who might encounter maliciously crafted links or content within the AEM-managed websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-36181 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Experience Manager installations to version 6.5.21 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within their AEM applications to prevent DOM-based XSS attacks, particularly focusing on dynamic content handling and user input processing. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious DOM manipulation patterns and unusual user behavior that might indicate successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of AEM environments are essential to identify potential vulnerabilities beyond the known CVE. The implementation of proper security headers such as Content-Security-Policy and X-Content-Type-Options can significantly reduce the attack surface for DOM-based XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, user education and awareness programs should be enhanced to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious web interactions that could lead to exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation and least-privilege access controls within their AEM environments to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.