CVE-2024-53963 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 02/05/2025
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 a low privileged 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 access a manipulated link or input data into a vulnerable page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2025
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 classified as DOM-based XSS where the malicious payload is executed within the client-side DOM rather than being reflected in HTTP responses. The flaw exists in how the application processes user-supplied input within the browser environment, creating an attack surface where malicious scripts can be injected and executed without server-side processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows a low-privileged attacker to craft malicious URLs or manipulate user input that gets processed through DOM elements within the AEM interface. When victims access these manipulated links or interact with vulnerable pages, the malicious JavaScript code embedded in the DOM elements executes within the victim's browser session, potentially compromising the integrity of user sessions and enabling further attack vectors. This type of attack requires user interaction as specified in the vulnerability description, meaning that successful exploitation depends on the victim performing specific actions such as clicking on malicious links or entering crafted data into vulnerable forms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, manipulate interface elements, and potentially escalate privileges within the application context. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to access restricted content, modify user permissions, or conduct phishing attacks against other users within the same AEM environment. The low privilege requirement for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be exploited by users with minimal access rights, potentially allowing them to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or functionality.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through patching to Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.22 or later versions where this issue has been addressed. Security teams should implement comprehensive monitoring of user access patterns and URL parameters for suspicious activity, while also conducting thorough code reviews to identify other potential DOM-based XSS vulnerabilities within their AEM implementations. The mitigation strategy should include strict input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data, proper encoding of dynamic content, and implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, demonstrating how DOM-based XSS can serve as a foundational attack vector for broader compromise operations within enterprise environments.