CVE-2024-36234 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 significant security risk for organizations relying on this content management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a DOM-based XSS flaw that operates within the browser's Document Object Model rather than through server-side input validation. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient sanitization of user-controllable data within the client-side JavaScript code, allowing malicious payloads to be executed when processed by the browser's DOM manipulation functions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft malicious input that gets processed by the AEM application's JavaScript components without proper sanitization. When a victim interacts with the malicious content, typically through clicking on a specially crafted link or submitting a form, the browser executes the injected JavaScript code within the victim's browser session. This allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized operations on behalf of the victim. The DOM-based nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script is executed in the victim's browser context rather than being sent to the server, making traditional server-side security measures ineffective against this specific attack vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potential lateral movement within affected organizations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, harvest sensitive user credentials, or manipulate content within the AEM platform to compromise the integrity of the entire system. The requirement for user interaction makes this vulnerability less likely to be exploited at scale, but it remains a critical threat that can be effectively weaponized through social engineering campaigns targeting specific user groups or administrative personnel. Organizations using affected AEM versions face potential data breaches, content tampering, and unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.21 or later, which contains patches addressing this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures within custom AEM applications can help reduce the attack surface. Security teams should conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify similar DOM-based XSS vulnerabilities within custom JavaScript implementations and ensure proper Content Security Policy headers are implemented to limit script execution. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for 'Modify Application Configuration' and T1059.007 for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript', making it a target for both configuration-based attacks and script-based exploitation campaigns. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the broader application ecosystem.