CVE-2024-52824 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 12/11/2024
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.21 and earlier are affected by a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability that could be abused by an attacker to inject malicious scripts into vulnerable form fields. Malicious JavaScript may be executed in a victim’s browser when they browse to the page containing the vulnerable field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2025
Adobe Experience Manager represents a comprehensive content management platform that serves as a cornerstone for enterprise digital experiences, handling sensitive data through various form interactions and user-generated content mechanisms. The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in versions 6.5.21 and earlier fundamentally undermines the platform's security posture by creating an attack vector that allows malicious actors to inject persistent JavaScript payloads into form fields. This flaw specifically targets the application's handling of user input within form elements, where the system fails to properly sanitize or escape potentially malicious content before storing it in the database. When legitimate users subsequently view pages containing these compromised form fields, their browsers execute the injected scripts within the context of their active session, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the AEM form processing pipeline. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that leverage the platform's form handling capabilities, bypassing standard security controls that should prevent script execution in user-facing interfaces. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code persists in the application's database and remains active until manually removed, creating a sustained threat vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This particular weakness aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how inadequate sanitization of user inputs can create persistent security weaknesses in web applications. The vulnerability can be exploited through various means including direct form submission, API endpoints, or any interface that accepts user-generated content without proper validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, session manipulation, and data exfiltration from authenticated users. When users interact with compromised form fields, their browsers execute the malicious JavaScript within the context of the AEM application, which typically operates with elevated privileges and access to user sessions. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where AEM serves as a critical platform for customer interactions, employee portals, and sensitive data handling. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that AEM is commonly used for public-facing websites, customer portals, and internal collaboration platforms where users may have varying levels of access and privileges. Organizations using affected versions face potential data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations, especially in regulated industries where user privacy and data protection are paramount.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigations including patching to the latest available version of Adobe Experience Manager, which addresses the stored XSS vulnerability through enhanced input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Security teams should also implement additional protective measures such as web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular input sanitization reviews to reduce the risk of exploitation. The mitigation strategy should include thorough testing of form inputs, monitoring for anomalous script injection attempts, and establishing incident response procedures specifically for XSS-related threats. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for social engineering through web applications, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning, regular security assessments, and user awareness training to strengthen their overall security posture against similar threats. The remediation process must include not only applying the official patches but also conducting comprehensive security reviews of all form handling mechanisms within the application to identify and address potential similar weaknesses.