CVE-2024-26117
📋 TL;DR
This reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager allows attackers to execute malicious JavaScript in victims' browsers by tricking them into visiting specially crafted URLs. It affects Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 and earlier. The vulnerability requires user interaction but can lead to session hijacking, data theft, or further attacks.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe Experience Manager
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator session cookies, gain administrative access to the AEM instance, modify content, install backdoors, or pivot to internal systems.
Likely Case
Attackers steal user session cookies or credentials, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or redirect to phishing sites.
If Mitigated
Limited to minor data leakage or temporary disruption if proper input validation and output encoding are implemented.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (clicking malicious link) but no authentication. Attack complexity is low once malicious URL is crafted.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 6.5.21 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/experience-manager/apsb24-28.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.21 or later from Adobe's distribution portal. 2. Apply the service pack following Adobe's upgrade documentation. 3. Restart the AEM instance. 4. Verify the update was successful.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation Filter
allImplement custom servlet filters to sanitize user input in URL parameters
Implement Java servlet filter to validate and sanitize all request parameters
Content Security Policy
allImplement strict CSP headers to mitigate XSS impact
Add 'Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'' to HTTP responses
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) with XSS protection rules
- Restrict access to vulnerable endpoints using reverse proxy rules or network ACLs
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check AEM version via CRXDE Lite or system console. If version is 6.5.20 or earlier, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
curl -k https://[aem-host]:[port]/system/console/status-productinfo | grep 'Adobe Experience Manager'Verify Fix Applied:
Verify AEM version is 6.5.21 or later and test vulnerable endpoints with XSS payloads that should be blocked.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual long URL parameters containing script tags
- Requests with JavaScript payloads in query strings
- Multiple failed requests to same endpoint with encoded payloads
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests with suspicious parameters like <script>, javascript:, or encoded equivalents
- Outbound connections to unknown domains following AEM access
SIEM Query:
source="aem-access.log" AND (uri="*<script>*" OR uri="*javascript:*" OR uri="*%3Cscript%3E*")