CVE-2022-42351 is an Incorrect Authorization vulnerability (CWE-863) affecting Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) version 6.5.14 and earlier. This vulnerability arises from improper enforcement of authorization controls within the AEM platform, allowing a low-privileged attacker to bypass security features and access information that should be restricted. Specifically, the flaw enables unauthorized disclosure of low-level confidential information without requiring any user interaction, which implies that exploitation can be automated or performed remotely without social engineering. The vulnerability does not appear to allow privilege escalation or direct system compromise but can leak sensitive data that could be leveraged for further attacks. Adobe Experience Manager is a widely used content management system (CMS) employed by enterprises to manage digital assets and web content, often hosting critical corporate websites and portals. The lack of a patch link suggests that remediation may require applying updates from Adobe or implementing compensating controls. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the presence of this vulnerability in a critical enterprise platform poses a moderate risk, especially in environments where strict access controls and data confidentiality are paramount.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-42351 can be significant, particularly for those relying on Adobe Experience Manager to manage sensitive corporate or customer data. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information could lead to data leakage, intellectual property exposure, or compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR. While the vulnerability does not directly enable system takeover, the leaked information could facilitate targeted phishing, social engineering, or further exploitation of internal systems. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and media—where AEM is commonly deployed—may face reputational damage and regulatory penalties if sensitive data is exposed. Additionally, the ability to exploit this vulnerability without user interaction increases the risk of automated scanning and exploitation attempts, potentially leading to widespread reconnaissance by threat actors. The medium severity rating reflects the balance between the limited scope of data disclosure and the ease of exploitation without user interaction.

To mitigate CVE-2022-42351, European organizations should prioritize the following specific actions: 1) Apply the latest Adobe Experience Manager patches or updates as soon as they become available, ensuring that the affected versions are upgraded beyond 6.5.14. 2) Implement strict access control policies within AEM, including role-based access controls (RBAC) and least privilege principles, to limit the exposure of sensitive information even if authorization checks fail. 3) Conduct thorough audits of AEM user permissions and content repositories to identify and restrict access to confidential data. 4) Monitor AEM logs and network traffic for unusual access patterns or unauthorized attempts to access restricted resources, enabling early detection of exploitation attempts. 5) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting AEM authorization endpoints. 6) Educate administrators and developers on secure configuration practices for AEM to prevent misconfigurations that could exacerbate the vulnerability. 7) Consider network segmentation to isolate AEM servers from critical internal systems, reducing the blast radius of any potential data disclosure.