CVE-2025-46940 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 presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in versions 6.5.22 and earlier, allowing low-privileged attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into form fields that persist on the server. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user input within form fields, where insufficient sanitization or validation permits attackers to store malicious payloads that execute when other users view the affected content. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script remains embedded in the application's database or storage system, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized commands on behalf of victims. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and establishment of persistent backdoors within the application environment.
The vulnerability operates through the application's content management capabilities where form fields are not properly sanitized before being rendered to end users. When users browse pages containing these vulnerable fields, their browsers execute the injected JavaScript code, potentially compromising their security context. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics involving malicious content delivery. The low privilege requirement makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be exploited by users with minimal access rights, potentially escalating to more severe compromises. The affected Adobe Experience Manager versions represent a significant attack surface given the platform's widespread use in enterprise content management and digital experience applications. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face potential exposure to various attack scenarios including targeted phishing campaigns, credential theft operations, and persistent security breaches that can compromise entire application ecosystems.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term security architecture improvements. Organizations should prioritize updating to Adobe Experience Manager versions that contain patches for this vulnerability, typically those beyond 6.5.22. The patching process should include thorough testing to ensure that security updates do not disrupt existing application functionality or content delivery workflows. Additional protective measures include implementing robust input validation mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious content, and establishing comprehensive monitoring protocols for detecting unauthorized content modifications. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies that restrict script execution within the application environment, along with regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the digital experience platform. The implementation of proper access controls and least privilege principles can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, while user education programs can help reduce the risk of social engineering components that might leverage this vulnerability. Organizations should also maintain detailed incident response procedures specifically addressing cross-site scripting attacks to ensure rapid containment and remediation when such vulnerabilities are detected or exploited.