CVE-2025-46989
📋 TL;DR
This stored XSS vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager allows low-privileged attackers to inject malicious JavaScript into form fields. When victims browse pages containing the injected scripts, their browsers execute the malicious code. Organizations using AEM versions 6.5.22 and earlier are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe Experience Manager
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator credentials, hijack user sessions, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious sites, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Likely Case
Attackers with low privileges could steal session cookies, perform actions as authenticated users, or conduct phishing attacks against other users.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output encoding, the risk is limited to authenticated users with form access, reducing the attack surface significantly.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is straightforward once an attacker identifies vulnerable form fields.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 6.5.23 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/experience-manager/apsb25-48.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.23 or later from Adobe's official distribution. 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 to complete the installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation Filter
allImplement server-side input validation to sanitize user input in form fields
Configure AEM's XSS protection filters in /system/console/configMgr
Content Security Policy
allImplement CSP headers to restrict script execution
Add Content-Security-Policy headers via AEM dispatcher or web server configuration
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict low-privileged user access to content authoring and form submission interfaces
- Implement web application firewall rules to detect and block XSS payloads
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check AEM version via the welcome page or system console; versions 6.5.22 or earlier are vulnerableCheck Version:
Navigate to /system/console/status-productinfo in AEM or check the welcome pageVerify Fix Applied:
Verify AEM version is 6.5.23 or later and test form fields with XSS payloads to ensure they're properly sanitized📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual form submissions with script tags or JavaScript payloads
- Multiple failed XSS attempts from same user
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing script tags or JavaScript in form parameters
- Unexpected outbound connections from user browsers
SIEM Query:
source="aem-access.log" AND ("<script>" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=" OR "onload=")