CVE-2025-46944 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 digital experience platform that serves as a content management system and digital asset management solution for enterprise organizations. The platform facilitates the creation and management of web content through various form-based interfaces that allow users to input data and interact with the system. These form fields are integral components of the user interface that enable content creators and administrators to populate various content types and configurations within the AEM environment. The vulnerability affects versions 6.5.22 and earlier, indicating that this issue has been present in the platform for an extended period and potentially affects numerous enterprise deployments that have not yet upgraded to newer versions. The stored XSS vulnerability specifically targets the form field processing mechanisms within the AEM interface, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper sanitization and validation of user input within form fields that are subsequently stored and rendered back to users. When a low privileged attacker submits malicious JavaScript code through a vulnerable form field, the system fails to adequately filter or escape the input before storing it in the database or content repository. This stored data is then retrieved and displayed in the user interface without proper output encoding, creating an environment where the malicious script executes in the context of other users who view the affected content. The vulnerability is classified as stored XSS because the malicious payload persists in the system and affects multiple users who encounter the compromised content. The attack vector requires minimal privileges, as the vulnerability can be exploited by users with basic access rights to form submission functionality, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where various roles and permissions exist.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to compromise user sessions and access sensitive information. When malicious JavaScript executes in a victim's browser, it can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, defacing content, or even executing additional exploits against the victim's browser. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the attack can persist indefinitely until the malicious content is removed from the system, potentially affecting thousands of users who encounter the compromised forms. Organizations using AEM for content management, digital marketing, or employee collaboration may experience significant data exposure and reputation damage if this vulnerability is exploited, particularly when the platform contains sensitive corporate information or user data. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the platform by allowing attackers to compromise the integrity of content and user sessions.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Adobe Experience Manager versions that address this vulnerability, as the stored XSS issue can have long-term consequences for user security and data integrity. The mitigation strategy should include implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all form fields and content submission points within the AEM environment. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all AEM forms and content entry points to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in custom components or third-party integrations. Additionally, organizations should implement web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against XSS attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution, highlighting the importance of addressing this issue through both immediate patching and broader security hardening measures. The incident should trigger a comprehensive review of input sanitization practices and user privilege management within the AEM platform to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.