CVE-2024-36187 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 versions 6.5.20 and earlier contain a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant threat to web application security. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and specifically manifests as a stored XSS flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into form fields within the AEM interface. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the content management system's form processing components, creating an attack vector where persistent malicious code can be embedded and executed against unsuspecting users. The flaw affects the core functionality of AEM's content management capabilities and poses a substantial risk to organizations relying on this platform for digital experience management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious JavaScript code through vulnerable form fields within the Adobe Experience Manager interface. The malicious payload is then stored within the application's database or content repository, making it persistent across sessions and user interactions. When other users navigate to pages containing these vulnerable fields, the stored script executes in their browser context without proper sanitization or encoding. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed or the application is updated, providing attackers with extended opportunities for exploitation. The vulnerability can be leveraged to perform actions such as session hijacking, data exfiltration, defacement of content, or redirection to malicious websites, all while appearing to originate from legitimate AEM interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution and represents a comprehensive security breach that can compromise entire user sessions and sensitive content management operations. Attackers can exploit this flaw to steal user credentials, manipulate content, or gain unauthorized access to administrative functions within the AEM environment. The vulnerability affects both authenticated and unauthenticated users who interact with vulnerable form fields, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where AEM is used for publishing critical business content. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues, reputational damage, and potential financial losses due to unauthorized access to their digital assets and user data. The persistence of stored XSS attacks means that even after initial exploitation, the vulnerability continues to pose threats to ongoing system integrity and user safety.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Adobe, which address the root cause of the stored XSS vulnerability through enhanced input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, enabling proper input sanitization at multiple layers, and conducting regular security assessments of AEM forms and content fields can significantly reduce the attack surface. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious script injections should be deployed to detect potential exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should also include user education regarding the risks of clicking on suspicious links or submitting untrusted content to AEM forms. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls specifically configured to detect and block XSS payloads targeting AEM components, while maintaining detailed audit logs of all form submissions for forensic analysis. Regular security scanning of AEM environments using tools that specifically target XSS vulnerabilities will help identify additional potential attack vectors and ensure comprehensive protection against similar threats.