CVE-2025-46846 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 versions 6.5.22 and earlier contain a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant threat to web application security. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw exists within the form handling mechanisms of AEM, where user input is not properly sanitized or encoded before being stored and subsequently rendered back to users. Attackers with low privileged access can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious JavaScript code through form fields that are later displayed on web pages, creating a persistent XSS attack vector that can affect all users who view the compromised content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the AEM content management system. When users submit data through web forms, the system fails to adequately sanitize the input before storing it in the database or content repository. This stored data is then rendered back to users without proper HTML escaping or context-aware encoding, allowing malicious scripts to execute in the browser context of unsuspecting victims. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates as a stored XSS attack rather than a reflected one, meaning the malicious payload persists and can affect multiple users over time. The attack chain involves initial access through low-privilege user accounts, submission of malicious content, and subsequent execution when other users view the compromised form fields.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even escalate privileges within the AEM environment. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through web application attacks and T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The attack surface is broad as it affects all form-based interactions within AEM, including user registration forms, contact forms, comment sections, and content submission mechanisms. Organizations using older AEM versions face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and potential compromise of sensitive corporate information. The persistent nature of stored XSS makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can remain undetected for extended periods while continuously affecting users who interact with the compromised content.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.23 or later versions, which contain the necessary patches for this vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation rules, deploying web application firewalls, enabling content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments of form handling components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the CWE guidelines for preventing XSS attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing automated monitoring for suspicious form submissions and establishing incident response procedures specifically addressing stored XSS vulnerabilities. Regular security training for developers and administrators on secure coding practices remains essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom AEM implementations and third-party extensions that may interact with the core form processing functionality.