CVE-2024-36220 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 requires user interaction, such as convincing a victim to click on a specially crafted link or to submit a form that triggers the malicious script.
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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 flaw in the web application framework. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a DOM-based XSS variant where malicious scripts are injected into the Document Object Model rather than through traditional input validation bypasses. The vulnerability exists within the application's handling of user-supplied input that is subsequently processed and rendered within the browser's DOM structure without adequate sanitization or encoding mechanisms. The attack vector requires user interaction, making it a client-side exploit that cannot be automatically triggered without victim engagement, but once activated, it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser session context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of dynamic content generation within the AEM framework's client-side JavaScript components. When users interact with maliciously crafted URLs or form submissions containing specially crafted payloads, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into the DOM structure. This allows attackers to inject malicious script tags or event handlers that execute in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The DOM-based nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code is executed as part of the page's runtime behavior rather than being reflected in HTTP responses, making it more challenging to detect through traditional network-based security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the victim's authenticated session. Attackers can potentially steal session cookies, modify page content, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. The requirement for user interaction creates a social engineering component that attackers can exploit through various means including phishing emails, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the AEM platform, as it can be used to compromise user sessions and potentially gain access to sensitive content management functionalities. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that AEM is widely used for enterprise content management and digital experience platforms where users may have elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected AEM versions to 6.5.21 or later, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's client-side code, particularly focusing on DOM manipulation functions such as innerHTML, outerHTML, and document.write operations. Network security controls including web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while security headers such as Content Security Policy should be implemented to restrict script execution. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, user education and awareness programs should be strengthened to help users recognize and avoid potentially malicious links or forms that could trigger this vulnerability, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's T1566 technique for social engineering through malicious links.