CVE-2024-52865 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 • 02/18/2025
Adobe Experience Manager version 6.5.21 and earlier contains a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant threat to web application security. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and can be exploited through form fields that do not properly sanitize user input. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that persists in the application's database and executes whenever victims view the affected content, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and data confidentiality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious script content through form fields within the AEM interface. The application fails to adequately validate or sanitize the input before storing it in the backend database, enabling the malicious code to be stored as legitimate content. When other users browse to pages containing these vulnerable fields, their browsers execute the injected JavaScript within the context of their authenticated sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the compromised user accounts. This stored nature of the vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as the malicious payload remains active even after the initial injection point.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential full system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional payloads that could escalate privileges within the AEM environment. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 by enabling unauthorized access to sensitive data and T1059 by allowing execution of malicious code through the application interface. Organizations using affected AEM versions face risks of unauthorized data access, user account compromise, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Experience Manager installations to address this vulnerability. The remediation process involves upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.22 or later, which contain the necessary security fixes. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their AEM environments and monitor for suspicious activity in form submission areas. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing can help identify similar stored XSS vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's attack surface.