CVE-2024-36235 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 causes the execution of 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 risk for organizations relying on this content management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as DOM-based XSS where the malicious script is executed within the victim's browser environment rather than being injected into server-side responses. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input that is subsequently processed within the Document Object Model, creating an execution path where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable JavaScript code.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires social engineering tactics to convince users to interact with maliciously crafted content, typically through phishing emails containing deceptive links or compromised web forms that trigger the vulnerable code path. When a user clicks on the malicious link or submits the compromised form, the DOM-based XSS attack executes within the user's browser session, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim, or redirect users to malicious websites. The attack vector leverages the fact that the application processes user input directly within the browser's DOM without adequate sanitization, making it particularly dangerous as it operates entirely within the client-side environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to user sessions and potentially compromise entire organizational workflows. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive content management features, modify website content, or exfiltrate confidential data through the victim's authenticated browser session. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Adobe Experience Manager, which is widely used for enterprise web content management, making it particularly attractive to threat actors targeting organizations with substantial digital presences. This type of attack aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the browser environment as a vector for execution.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Adobe's security patches for Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.21 and later versions, as the vulnerability cannot be effectively mitigated through configuration changes alone. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict content security policies, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security awareness training to reduce the success rate of social engineering attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding within client-side applications, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing of web applications that process user-supplied data within the DOM. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing browser-based attacks.