CVE-2025-46860 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 • 06/11/2025
Adobe Experience Manager presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in versions 6.5.22 and earlier, where malicious actors with low privilege access can inject persistent JavaScript payloads into form fields. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the AEM content management system, allowing attackers to bypass security controls that should prevent malicious code execution. The flaw exists in the form processing and rendering components where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being stored and subsequently displayed to other users. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as a classic stored XSS flaw, where malicious scripts are permanently stored on the server and executed whenever victims access pages containing the compromised data fields. This weakness enables attackers to perform session hijacking, defacement of content, data exfiltration, and credential theft through victim browser interactions. The attack vector requires minimal privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users with basic access rights to the AEM instance, potentially compromising the entire content management ecosystem. The operational impact extends beyond simple script execution, as this vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the compromised environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious JavaScript code through form fields that are subsequently stored in the AEM database or content repository. When other users browse to pages containing these vulnerable form fields, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers within the context of the AEM application, potentially gaining access to session cookies, local storage, and other sensitive browser data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because AEM is commonly used for enterprise content management and digital experience platforms, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to compromise large organizations. The stored nature of this XSS flaw means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, allowing attackers to maintain access over extended periods. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.001 for command and control through script-based payloads. The lack of proper sanitization in the form handling components creates an attack surface that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and lateral movement within the compromised environment.
Organizations utilizing Adobe Experience Manager must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the latest security patches released by Adobe, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all form fields and user input components. The recommended remediation strategy involves enabling strict content security policies, implementing proper HTML escaping for all user-generated content, and establishing robust access controls to limit user privileges within the AEM environment. Security teams should also deploy web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious input patterns, while implementing regular security scanning procedures to identify additional vulnerabilities within the AEM platform. The mitigation approach should align with NIST SP 800-53 security controls, particularly those related to input validation and output encoding. Organizations should also consider implementing user behavior analytics to detect anomalous activities related to form submissions and content modifications, as well as establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle XSS-related security events. Regular security awareness training for developers and administrators is crucial to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future implementations and to ensure proper security practices are maintained throughout the application lifecycle.