CVE-2025-46923 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 • 06/12/2025
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 in the application's database. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the AEM form processing components, creating a persistent security gap that enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in victims' browsers when they view pages containing the compromised form fields. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied data within content management interfaces, where submitted form values are not adequately sanitized before being stored and subsequently rendered back to users. This stored XSS vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks through browser-based exploits. Attackers require minimal privileges to exploit this vulnerability since it targets the content management functionality rather than requiring administrative access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with form-based content submission features. The vulnerability affects the core content management capabilities of AEM, potentially compromising all users who access pages containing the maliciously injected scripts, creating a widespread impact across the application's user base.
The technical implementation of this stored XSS flaw occurs when form fields within AEM's content editor do not properly encode or sanitize user input before storing it in the repository. When administrators or content authors subsequently view these pages, the malicious scripts execute within their browser context, bypassing standard security mechanisms that protect against reflected XSS attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's rich text editing components and form processing pipelines, where input validation occurs too late in the processing chain or not at all. The persistence of the malicious payload means that the attack vector remains active until the compromised content is manually removed or the vulnerability is patched, creating an ongoing threat that can affect multiple users over extended periods. Security controls such as Content Security Policy headers may be circumvented by this particular implementation, as the malicious code originates from within the application's legitimate data flow rather than external sources. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no advanced technical skills beyond basic knowledge of web application security principles, making it accessible to threat actors with minimal expertise. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and potential for widespread compromise within organizations relying on AEM for content management and digital experience delivery.
Organizations utilizing Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.22 and earlier face substantial operational risks from this vulnerability, including potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive content, and compromise of user sessions. The stored nature of the XSS attack means that even users who do not directly interact with the compromised forms may be affected when they browse to pages containing the malicious content, creating a cascading effect that can impact entire user bases. The vulnerability's impact extends to business continuity and regulatory compliance, particularly in industries subject to data protection requirements such as healthcare, finance, and government sectors. Organizations may experience reputational damage from successful exploitation attempts, along with potential legal and financial consequences from data loss or unauthorized access incidents. The attack vector's simplicity and the application's widespread use across enterprise environments create a high probability of successful exploitation, especially in organizations with less sophisticated security monitoring capabilities. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to the integrity of digital content management systems and the trust placed in these platforms by both administrators and end users. Companies must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability on their digital infrastructure, including potential compromise of sensitive business data, intellectual property, and customer information stored within AEM-managed systems.
Immediate remediation efforts should prioritize updating Adobe Experience Manager to versions 6.5.23 or later, which contain the necessary patches addressing this stored XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all form processing components within their AEM installations, ensuring that user-supplied data undergoes proper sanitization before storage and rendering. Security teams must conduct thorough assessments of all AEM content management interfaces to identify potentially vulnerable form fields and content areas that may require additional protection measures. Regular security scanning and penetration testing of AEM environments should be implemented to detect similar vulnerabilities and ensure ongoing protection against evolving threat landscapes. Organizations should also establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized content modifications and implement automated alerting for suspicious activities within content management systems. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reinforced to limit potential exploitation pathways, while security awareness training for content editors and administrators should emphasize the risks associated with untrusted content submission. The implementation of web application firewalls and enhanced Content Security Policy configurations can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts, though these measures should complement rather than replace the core patching and configuration updates required to address the vulnerability fundamentally.