CVE-2024-36170
📋 TL;DR
This stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript into vulnerable form fields. When users visit pages containing these compromised fields, their browsers execute the attacker's scripts. This affects Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 and earlier.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe Experience Manager
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal user session cookies, perform actions as authenticated users, redirect to malicious sites, or install malware on victim systems.
Likely Case
Session hijacking, credential theft, or defacement of web pages through injected content.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper input validation, output encoding, and Content Security Policy (CSP) headers in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires attacker to have access to submit data to vulnerable form fields, but exploitation is straightforward once access is obtained.
🛠️ 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. Follow Adobe's upgrade documentation for your deployment type (on-premise or cloud). 3. Apply the update to all affected instances. 4. Restart AEM services.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation and Output Encoding
allImplement strict input validation and proper output encoding for all user-controllable form fields.
Content Security Policy
allImplement a strict Content Security Policy header to restrict script execution sources.
Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads
- Disable or restrict access to vulnerable form components
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check AEM version via AEM Web Console (/system/console) or by examining the AEM installation directory.Check Version:
Check CRX Package Manager or AEM Web Console for version informationVerify Fix Applied:
Verify AEM version is 6.5.21 or later and test form fields with XSS payloads to confirm they are properly sanitized.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual form submissions with script tags or JavaScript code
- Multiple failed XSS attempts in access logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing script tags or JavaScript in form parameters
SIEM Query:
source="aem_access.log" AND ("<script" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=" OR "onload=")