CVE-2025-46844 in Experience Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 06/11/2025
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.22 and earlier are affected by a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability that could be abused by a low privileged 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 • 06/13/2025
Adobe Experience Manager represents a comprehensive digital experience platform that serves as a cornerstone for enterprise content management and digital asset handling. The platform's widespread adoption across organizations makes it a prime target for cyber adversaries seeking to exploit vulnerabilities that could compromise large user bases. This particular vulnerability exists within the form handling mechanisms of Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.22 and earlier, where input validation fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages. The stored nature of this cross-site scripting flaw means that malicious payloads are persistently saved within the application's database or storage systems, making them particularly dangerous as they can affect multiple users over extended periods. The vulnerability specifically impacts form fields where user input is processed and subsequently displayed without adequate sanitization measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a low privileged attacker submits malicious JavaScript code through form fields that are subsequently stored within the system. This stored payload becomes active when other users view the page containing the vulnerable form field, triggering execution of the malicious script within their browser context. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the application's rendering pipeline, allowing attackers to inject script tags or other malicious code constructs that bypass standard security controls. The attacker does not require elevated privileges to exploit this flaw, making it particularly concerning as it can be leveraged by anyone with access to submit data through the affected forms. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities where applications fail to properly encode output to prevent execution of malicious scripts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it creates potential for more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal user sessions, capture sensitive information entered into forms, or redirect victims to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The persistent nature of stored XSS makes it particularly dangerous for applications handling sensitive data such as customer information, employee details, or proprietary business data. Organizations using older versions of Adobe Experience Manager face significant risk as the vulnerability allows for long-term persistence of malicious code within their systems. This creates an environment where attackers can maintain access and continue exploiting users over extended periods, potentially leading to data breaches or unauthorized system access. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistence through manipulation of data or code, and T1071.001 which covers application layer protocol usage for command and control communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security posture improvements. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.23 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through enhanced input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The upgrade process should include thorough testing to ensure that existing functionality remains intact while implementing the security fixes. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers including client-side, server-side, and database input sanitization to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components. Network monitoring and web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious script injection patterns, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify potential XSS vulnerabilities in other parts of the application stack. Security awareness training for developers should emphasize proper input handling and output encoding practices to prevent recurrence of similar issues in custom-developed components. The remediation process should also include reviewing and updating security configurations, implementing proper access controls, and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle XSS-related security events.