CVE-2024-52844 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 and specifically manifests as a DOM-based XSS flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the victim's browser environment. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data that flows into DOM elements without proper encoding or escaping mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs or manipulating form inputs that subsequently affect DOM elements during page rendering, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the ability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. The attack requires user interaction, meaning victims must visit malicious links or submit data through compromised forms, but once triggered, the malicious scripts execute with the privileges of the authenticated user. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrators or privileged users frequently interact with web applications. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability means that the attack vector operates within the browser's Document Object Model, making it more difficult to detect through traditional network-based security measures and requiring specific client-side detection capabilities.
Organizations utilizing Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.21 and earlier versions must implement immediate mitigations to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability. The primary remediation strategy involves upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.22 or later versions where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, implementing comprehensive input validation controls, enforcing strict content security policies, and deploying web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities can provide layered protection. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify any custom implementations that may be vulnerable to similar DOM-based XSS attacks and ensure proper sanitization of all user inputs before they are processed or rendered within DOM elements. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security controls in web applications to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities that can lead to complete system compromise. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to help prevent accidental interaction with malicious links and establish incident response procedures to quickly address any potential exploitation attempts.