CVE-2025-46851 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 security risk for organizations relying on this content management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation through web applications. The flaw exists within the form field processing functionality where input validation is insufficient, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that persists in the application's database or storage mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user inputs within the AEM form handling components. When users submit data through forms, the system fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code by web browsers. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that once malicious input is accepted and saved, it remains embedded in the system until manually removed, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. Attackers with low privilege access can exploit this weakness to inject payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the affected environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. When malicious JavaScript executes in a victim's browser, it can access cookies, local storage, and other sensitive data that the user has stored. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where AEM is used for content management, intranet portals, and customer-facing applications. The stored nature means that even if the initial injection occurs during a maintenance window or by an insider threat, the payload can persist and execute whenever affected pages are viewed, potentially compromising user sessions and sensitive organizational data. The vulnerability also increases the risk of credential theft, as attackers can capture authentication tokens or session identifiers that are automatically transmitted by browsers when executing malicious scripts.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls, as recommended by OWASP and the ATT&CK framework. The most effective immediate measures involve implementing strict content security policies that prevent script execution in form fields, deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block XSS patterns, and conducting thorough input sanitization at all entry points. Additionally, organizations should consider upgrading to supported versions of Adobe Experience Manager where this vulnerability has been addressed, as well as implementing regular security testing and code reviews to identify similar weaknesses in custom form implementations. The remediation process should include comprehensive user education about the risks of submitting untrusted content and establishing monitoring procedures to detect anomalous script execution patterns in the application environment.