CVE-2025-46908 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, allowing low-privileged attackers to inject malicious scripts into form fields that persist on the server. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the affected system. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains persistent within the application's database or storage mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when attackers submit malicious script content through form fields that are not properly validated or sanitized by the application's input handling mechanisms. These form fields may be part of content management workflows, user registration forms, or any interactive elements within the AEM interface. When legitimate users subsequently view pages containing these stored payloads, their browsers execute the injected JavaScript code, creating a vector for various attack scenarios including but not limited to cookie theft, redirection to malicious sites, or execution of additional malicious payloads. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to establish persistent backdoors or facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as those categorized under the ATT&CK framework's initial access and execution phases.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations utilizing affected AEM versions, as it provides attackers with a means to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the application environment. Low-privileged attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive content or functionality, particularly if the application lacks proper input validation and output encoding controls. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues and potential data breaches if this vulnerability is exploited, especially in environments where AEM manages sensitive customer data or corporate information. The persistent nature of stored XSS makes this vulnerability particularly challenging to detect and remediate, as malicious content can remain undetected for extended periods, continuously compromising user sessions and potentially providing attackers with extended access to the system.
Organizations should immediately apply the latest security patches released by Adobe to address this vulnerability, as the company has likely provided specific updates or hotfixes for affected AEM versions. Implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's form handling processes represents a critical mitigation strategy that aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP's top ten vulnerabilities and defense-in-depth principles. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their AEM implementations to identify all potential entry points where user input is processed, and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous script content within form fields. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection, while regular security training for developers and administrators helps prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles. The vulnerability's classification under both CWE-79 and potential ATT&CK framework mappings underscores the importance of comprehensive security measures that address multiple attack vectors and ensure proper data sanitization throughout the application lifecycle.