CVE-2024-36239 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.
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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 presents a significant security risk to organizations relying on this platform for digital experience management. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a DOM-based XSS flaw that occurs when the application processes user-supplied data within the Document Object Model without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in the way the platform handles input parameters that are reflected in the browser's DOM structure, creating an attack surface where malicious scripts can be injected and executed within the victim's browser context.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires social engineering tactics to convince users to interact with maliciously crafted links or content, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently click on links from various sources. When a victim interacts with an attacker-controlled URL containing malicious JavaScript code, the payload executes within the victim's browser session with the privileges of that user, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive data, perform unauthorized actions, or establish persistent access to the affected systems. The DOM-based nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script is executed directly within the browser's DOM without requiring server-side processing, making detection and prevention more challenging.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal authentication tokens, manipulate web page content, and potentially escalate privileges within the Adobe Experience Manager environment. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to access unpublished content, modify website functionality, or even gain administrative access to the AEM instance if proper access controls are not implemented. The vulnerability affects the core web application functionality and could compromise the integrity of the entire digital experience management platform, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and reputational damage for organizations using affected versions.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to Adobe Experience Manager version 6.5.21 or later, which contains patches addressing this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, enforcing strict Content Security Policy headers, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications can help reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for phishing, as it requires user interaction and can be delivered through malicious links or content. Security teams should also monitor for suspicious user activities, implement web application firewalls, and ensure that all users receive security awareness training to recognize and avoid potentially malicious links that could exploit this vulnerability.