CVE-2024-36202 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, specifically classified as a stored XSS flaw where malicious input is permanently stored on the server and subsequently served to other users. The vulnerability manifests when attackers exploit form fields within the AEM interface, allowing them to inject malicious JavaScript code that persists in the application's database or storage mechanism. The attack vector requires an authenticated user with sufficient privileges to submit data through vulnerable form fields, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is compromised or where users have broad submission capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the AEM content management system. When users submit data through forms, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied content before storing it in the backend database or rendering it in subsequent web pages. This lack of proper sanitization creates an environment where malicious scripts can be stored and executed without proper context-based encoding. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because AEM is widely used for enterprise content management, often handling sensitive business data and user information, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to exploit persistent XSS flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities through the victim's browser context. Once executed, the injected JavaScript can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify content displayed to other users, or even perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. This persistent nature of stored XSS makes it particularly dangerous for long-term compromise, as the malicious payload remains active until explicitly removed from the system. The vulnerability can be exploited to create backdoor access, escalate privileges, or facilitate further attacks within the network, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on AEM for their digital presence.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.21 or later, which contain patches addressing this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within custom applications built on AEM is essential. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all form fields and user input points within their AEM instances, ensuring that all user-supplied content is properly sanitized before storage. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious file delivery and T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter for JavaScript execution, making it a multi-stage threat requiring comprehensive defensive measures. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in custom extensions or third-party integrations that may also be susceptible to stored XSS attacks.