CVE-2022-30684 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) versions up to and including 6.5.13.0. This vulnerability arises when an attacker crafts a malicious URL referencing a vulnerable page within AEM. When a victim with low-privilege access to the AEM instance clicks on this URL, the malicious JavaScript payload is executed in the context of the victim's browser session. Reflected XSS vulnerabilities exploit the lack of proper input validation or output encoding on user-supplied data that is immediately reflected back in the HTTP response. In this case, the attacker does not need elevated privileges within AEM to exploit the vulnerability, only low-privilege access, which could be as simple as an authenticated user or potentially an unauthenticated user if the affected page is publicly accessible. The execution of malicious scripts can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions on behalf of the user, or theft of sensitive information accessible within the browser context. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the vulnerability is classified as medium severity by Adobe, indicating a moderate risk level. The absence of a patch link suggests that remediation may require applying updates from Adobe or implementing custom mitigations such as input sanitization or web application firewall (WAF) rules. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, a common and well-understood class of web application security issues. Given the widespread use of Adobe Experience Manager as a content management system for enterprise websites and portals, this vulnerability could be leveraged to target users with access to sensitive corporate or customer data.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on Adobe Experience Manager to manage public-facing or internal web portals. Successful exploitation could lead to the compromise of user sessions, enabling attackers to impersonate legitimate users, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate sensitive data such as personal information, intellectual property, or internal communications. This risk is heightened in sectors with strict data protection regulations like GDPR, where data breaches can result in substantial fines and reputational damage. Additionally, reflected XSS can be used as a vector for delivering further attacks, such as phishing or malware distribution, potentially affecting a broader user base. The medium severity rating reflects that while the vulnerability requires some level of access and user interaction, the potential for abuse in environments with sensitive data or critical business functions is non-trivial. Organizations operating customer portals, intranets, or administrative interfaces using AEM are particularly at risk. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk, as attackers may develop exploits or use the vulnerability in targeted campaigns.

To mitigate CVE-2022-30684, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Apply official Adobe patches or updates as soon as they become available to address the vulnerability directly. 2) Conduct a thorough audit of all AEM instances to identify vulnerable versions and affected pages, focusing on those accessible to authenticated and unauthenticated users. 3) Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data reflected in web pages to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 4) Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules tailored to detect and block reflected XSS attack patterns specific to AEM URLs. 5) Restrict low-privilege user access where possible, minimizing the attack surface by enforcing the principle of least privilege. 6) Educate users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links, especially those that appear to originate from untrusted sources. 7) Monitor web server and application logs for unusual URL requests or error patterns indicative of attempted exploitation. 8) Consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts within browsers. These measures, combined, will reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation and limit potential damage if an attack occurs.