CVE-2022-35694 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) version 6.5.14 and earlier. This vulnerability arises when an attacker crafts a malicious URL referencing a vulnerable page within AEM. If a low-privileged attacker convinces a victim to visit this URL, the malicious JavaScript embedded in the URL can execute within the victim's browser context. Reflected XSS vulnerabilities exploit improper input validation and output encoding, allowing injected scripts to run in the context of the trusted web application. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability does not require the attacker to have elevated privileges within the system, nor does it require prior authentication, increasing the attack surface. However, exploitation requires social engineering to lure victims into clicking the malicious link. There are no known exploits in the wild as of the published date, and no official patches or updates have been linked in the provided information. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which covers improper neutralization of input during web page generation. Given Adobe Experience Manager’s role as a content management system widely used by enterprises for managing web content and digital assets, this vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise user sessions or deface websites if exploited.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on Adobe Experience Manager for their public-facing websites or internal portals. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, theft of sensitive information such as authentication tokens or personal data, and potential defacement or manipulation of web content. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance (notably under GDPR), and disrupt business operations. Since AEM is often used by large enterprises, government agencies, and media companies in Europe, the risk extends to critical sectors including finance, public administration, and media. The reflected XSS nature means that the attack is targeted and requires user interaction, which may limit mass exploitation but still poses a threat to high-value targets. Additionally, compromised user sessions could be leveraged for further attacks within the organization’s network.

Organizations should immediately review their Adobe Experience Manager deployments and identify if they are running version 6.5.14 or earlier. Although no official patch links are provided, it is critical to monitor Adobe’s security advisories for updates or patches addressing this vulnerability. In the interim, implement web application firewall (WAF) rules specifically designed to detect and block reflected XSS attack patterns targeting AEM endpoints. Employ strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data in URLs and query parameters to prevent script injection. Additionally, enable Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. Conduct user awareness training to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that could lead to clicking malicious links. Regularly audit and monitor web server logs for suspicious URL requests indicative of exploitation attempts. For organizations with the capability, consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions to detect and block malicious script execution in real-time. Finally, segregate and limit the privileges of users interacting with AEM to minimize potential damage from compromised sessions.