CVE-2025-46888 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 content management platform widely adopted by enterprises for digital experience management and web content delivery. The platform serves as a central hub for creating, managing, and delivering digital experiences across multiple channels. Organizations rely heavily on AEM for its robust features including content creation tools, workflow management, and integration capabilities with various enterprise systems. The platform's architecture includes multiple components such as the authoring environment, publish instances, and various form handling mechanisms that process user inputs and generate dynamic content. Given its critical role in enterprise digital infrastructure, vulnerabilities within AEM can have significant operational and security implications for organizations relying on its services.
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.22 and earlier stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the form processing components of the platform. This flaw specifically affects form fields where user-generated content is stored and subsequently rendered without proper sanitization of potentially malicious script content. The vulnerability exists in the way the system handles data persistence and rendering of user inputs, particularly when content is stored in the repository and later retrieved for display. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious JavaScript code through form fields that are then stored in the system's database. When other users browse to pages containing these stored form fields, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple victims over time. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS due to the persistence of the malicious content and the indirect nature of the attack vector through form submission mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates opportunities for attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Low privileged attackers who can submit content through forms can potentially escalate their privileges or compromise user sessions by executing malicious scripts that capture browser cookies or redirect users to malicious sites. The persistent nature of stored XSS allows attackers to maintain access to compromised systems over extended periods, as the malicious code remains active in the form fields until manually removed. Organizations may experience reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and potential data breaches if attackers exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive information or disrupt business operations. The impact is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where AEM is used for customer-facing applications, internal portals, and business-critical web applications that handle sensitive data. The vulnerability can also enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors within the organization's digital infrastructure, potentially leading to extended compromise scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Experience Manager installations to the latest available versions that address the stored XSS flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their AEM implementations, ensuring that all user-generated content is properly sanitized before storage and rendering. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous form submissions or unusual user behavior patterns. Security awareness training for content authors and administrators can help prevent accidental exploitation through social engineering or insider threats. The implementation of web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against XSS attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues within the broader AEM ecosystem. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities and relates to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links, and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution. Organizations should also consider implementing automated remediation processes for form validation and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address XSS vulnerabilities in content management systems.