CVE-2025-46953 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.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2025
Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.22 and earlier contain a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on this content management platform. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as a stored XSS flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into form fields that are subsequently stored and executed when other users view the affected content. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a low privileged attacker who can leverage this weakness to compromise the browser security of legitimate users who interact with the compromised AEM instance.
The technical flaw manifests when user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being stored in the AEM database and subsequently rendered back to users without adequate output encoding. This creates an environment where malicious scripts can be embedded within form fields, which then execute in the context of other users' browsers when they access pages containing the compromised data. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists in the system and can affect multiple users over time, unlike reflected XSS attacks that require specific user interaction to trigger. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or execute arbitrary commands on behalf of the victim.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise entire user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise. Low privileged attackers who gain access to AEM forms can escalate their privileges by stealing authentication tokens or exploiting the XSS to access restricted areas of the application. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the AEM environment, potentially allowing attackers to modify content, access sensitive data, or perform unauthorized administrative actions. The attack surface is particularly wide given that AEM is commonly used for publishing websites, managing digital assets, and handling user-generated content through various form interfaces.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper sanitization of user-provided content before storage. The recommended approach involves implementing Content Security Policy headers, enabling strict output encoding for all user-generated content, and implementing comprehensive input validation that filters out potentially malicious script content. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block known XSS attack patterns, and conduct regular security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in custom AEM applications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage this weakness to execute malicious scripts in victim browsers, potentially leading to further exploitation through techniques such as credential theft or privilege escalation.
Security teams should prioritize patching affected AEM instances with the latest security updates from Adobe, while also implementing monitoring solutions that can detect suspicious input patterns in form fields. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices that align with industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls to limit the impact of compromised accounts and establish incident response procedures specifically designed to address XSS vulnerabilities in content management systems. This particular vulnerability highlights the critical need for continuous security testing and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies that protect against both known and emerging threats in enterprise content management platforms.