CVE-2024-52823 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 12/11/2024
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.21 and earlier are affected by a DOM-based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability that could be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the victim's browser session. By manipulating a DOM element through a crafted URL or user input, the attacker can inject malicious scripts that run when the page is rendered. This type of attack requires user interaction, as the victim would need to visit a malicious link or input data into a compromised form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2025
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.21 and earlier contain a critical 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 allows attackers to inject malicious scripts directly into the Document Object Model of web pages. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the AEM framework, particularly when processing user-supplied data through URL parameters or form inputs that are subsequently rendered in the browser environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft malicious URLs or manipulate user inputs in ways that bypass existing security controls within the AEM system. When a victim visits a specially crafted URL or submits data through a compromised form, the malicious script code becomes embedded within the DOM structure and executes automatically during page rendering. This attack vector operates entirely within the victim's browser context without requiring server-side exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass traditional network-level security controls and firewalls. The vulnerability is classified under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for credential access through social engineering, as it relies on user interaction to propagate.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it could enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, privilege escalation, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers could potentially steal user credentials, access sensitive content, modify page content, or establish persistent backdoors within the AEM environment. Organizations using affected AEM versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their digital assets, customer data exposure, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability's reliance on user interaction makes it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through automated security scanning alone, as it requires careful monitoring of user behavior and input validation across all AEM components.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.22 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as Adobe has released patches addressing the DOM-based XSS flaw. Security teams should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures across all user-facing AEM components, including URL parameters, form inputs, and dynamic content rendering. Additional mitigations include implementing strict content security policies, enabling proper HTTP headers to prevent script execution, and conducting thorough security testing of all custom AEM applications and extensions. Regular security audits and user awareness training should be implemented to reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering attacks that rely on user interaction. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and demonstrates how even minor input validation gaps can result in critical security breaches within enterprise content management systems.