CVE-2025-46877 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 systems running versions 6.5.22 and earlier contain a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows low-privileged attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into form fields. This vulnerability exists within the content management system's input validation mechanisms, specifically in how the platform processes and renders user-submitted data in form fields. The flaw enables attackers to persist malicious scripts that execute whenever legitimate users view pages containing the compromised data, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users over time.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user input within the AEM form processing pipeline. When users submit data through web forms, the system fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers. This stored XSS vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various form types including user registration forms, comment sections, and content submission fields. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which represents one of the most prevalent web application security flaws according to the CWE database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to impersonate legitimate users, access restricted content, or escalate privileges within the application. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once a malicious script is injected, it remains active until manually removed from the system, potentially affecting all users who encounter the compromised content. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where content is frequently shared or where administrators may not regularly audit submitted form data.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-submitted data, particularly within form fields and content management areas. The recommended approach involves deploying web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities, implementing strict content security policies, and ensuring proper HTML escaping of all dynamic content. Organizations should also consider implementing automated scanning tools to identify and remediate vulnerable form fields, while establishing regular security audits of content management workflows. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001: Phishing via Social Engineering, as attackers can use the stored XSS to create convincing phishing campaigns that appear legitimate within the AEM environment. Additionally, the vulnerability aligns with T1071.001: Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it specifically targets web-based application interfaces. The remediation process should include updating to patched versions of Adobe Experience Manager, implementing proper access controls to limit form submission privileges, and conducting security awareness training for content creators to prevent accidental injection of malicious code.