CVE-2024-36183 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2024
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 and earlier Answer: 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 typically requires user interaction, such as convincing a user to click on a specially crafted link or to submit a malicious form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2025
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 and earlier contain a dom-based cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on this content management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and specifically manifests as a DOM-based XSS flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code into the victim's browser context. The vulnerability exists within the web application's handling of user-supplied input that is processed within the document object model rather than being transmitted to the server for processing. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince users to interact with maliciously crafted links or forms, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently engage with web content from various sources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user input is improperly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into dynamic content within the browser's document object model. This allows attackers to inject malicious javascript payloads that execute in the context of the victim's session, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The DOM-based nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code is executed directly within the client-side environment without requiring server-side processing, which makes detection more challenging and the attack more persistent. The vulnerability specifically affects the answer functionality within Adobe Experience Manager, suggesting that the issue occurs when processing user responses or form submissions that are then rendered in the browser without proper input sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potential lateral movement within organizational networks. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal sensitive session cookies, capture user credentials, or redirect victims to phishing sites that appear legitimate within the context of the Adobe Experience Manager environment. The requirement for user interaction creates a realistic attack scenario that organizations must consider when evaluating their security posture, particularly in environments where users frequently interact with web applications. This vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-facing components of web applications.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager versions that address this specific XSS flaw, as the patching process should be treated as a critical security operation. Additional mitigations include implementing strict content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security assessments of all user-facing applications. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including initial access through social engineering and execution through malicious code injection, making it a significant concern for organizations following the MITRE ATT&CK framework for threat modeling. Security teams should also consider implementing user awareness training programs to reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that exploit this vulnerability, particularly in environments where users may be less familiar with recognizing malicious links or forms.