CVE-2025-46979 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 versions 6.5.22 and earlier contain a 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 manifesting as a stored XSS flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into form fields within the AEM interface. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the form processing components, creating an attack vector where malicious payloads can persist and execute automatically when other users interact with the affected pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the AEM environment. Low privileged attackers can exploit this weakness to inject JavaScript code into form fields that are subsequently stored in the system's database or content repository. When legitimate users browse to pages containing these vulnerable fields, their browsers execute the malicious scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payloads remain active until manually removed, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users over extended periods.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses all AEM forms and content editing interfaces that accept user input without proper sanitization. According to ATT&CK framework category T1531, this vulnerability enables adversaries to gain access to sensitive data and potentially escalate privileges within the application. Organizations using AEM for content management, digital asset management, or web publishing are particularly at risk, as these systems often contain sensitive organizational information and user data. The vulnerability can be exploited through various form types including contact forms, user registration portals, content editing interfaces, and administrative forms, making it a broad-spectrum threat to AEM deployments.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected AEM versions to 6.5.23 or later, where Adobe has implemented proper input validation and output encoding controls. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious script patterns, regular security scanning of AEM forms and interfaces, and comprehensive input sanitization for all user-facing fields. Network segmentation and privilege separation can limit the impact of successful exploitation, while regular security awareness training for content editors can help prevent accidental injection of malicious payloads. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices, aligning with security standards that emphasize the need for defense-in-depth strategies to protect against persistent threats in content management systems.