CVE-2024-36190 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 typically requires user interaction, such as convincing a user to click on a specially crafted link or to submit a form that triggers the vulnerability.
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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 critical 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 occurs when the application processes user-supplied input directly within the Document Object Model without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in how the system handles dynamic content manipulation and input validation within the browser environment rather than server-side processing.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Adobe Experience Manager framework's client-side JavaScript implementations. When users interact with the platform through web interfaces or when malicious payloads are embedded in URLs or form parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-provided data before incorporating it into the DOM structure. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes within the victim's browser session with the privileges of the authenticated user. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited effectively, typically through social engineering tactics that convince victims to click on malicious links or submit forms containing crafted payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the victim's browser context. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even escalate privileges within the AEM environment. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability means that the attack vector can be particularly subtle and difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring or web application firewalls, as the malicious code executes entirely within the browser's DOM context rather than being transmitted through HTTP requests. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where AEM is used for sensitive content management and digital experience delivery.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability in their Adobe Experience Manager deployments. The primary recommendation involves applying the latest security patches and updates provided by Adobe, which typically include proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Network security teams should also consider deploying web application firewalls with updated signatures specifically targeting XSS vulnerabilities and monitor for suspicious patterns in user interactions with AEM interfaces. The implementation of proper input validation at multiple layers, including client-side and server-side controls, along with regular security assessments and penetration testing, will significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically addressing XSS vulnerabilities and conduct regular security awareness training for administrators and end users to prevent successful social engineering attacks that could leverage this vulnerability.